EU hits 19 Venezuelans with sanctions over December election

FILE PHOTO: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela, February 17, 2021. REUTERS/Fausto Torrealba

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on 19 senior Venezuelan officials, lawmakers and members of the security forces in response to December's legislative election that the bloc said was rigged in favour of President Nicolas Maduro.

Allies of Maduro won almost all of the legislature's seatsin a vote that was also disavowed by the United States and seen in the West as a way for the president to take control of the only lever of power not already in his grasp.