BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The European Union does not recognise the “democratic legitimacy” of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after his re-election last month, the bloc’s top diplomat said on Thursday.

“He will remain president de facto. Yes, de facto. But we deny democratic legitimacy based on a result that cannot be verified,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said during a press conference in Brussels after a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers.

“We believe that the electoral victory that he’s claiming was not endorsed, it’s not approved. And therefore we have no reason to believe it,” Borrell added.

He also said that the EU would continue to maintain relations with Maduro’s Venezuela, as it does with other countries where it does not recognise the democratic legitimacy of leaders, such as Nicaragua.

“In diplomacy, it’s not governments, but it’s states that are recognised.”

Maduro was declared the winner of the July 28 election, but the opposition — which had been leading in the polls — cried foul, publishing its own voting records on a website appearing to show a convincing win for candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.

Gonzalez Urrutia, a retired former diplomat in his 70s, became a last-minute candidate after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was banned from running in the election.

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) has refused to publish its records, claiming hackers had corrupted the data.

Venezuela’s strongman leader Maduro has called for the arrest of Gonzalez Urrutia, not seen in public since a July 30 opposition march.

Gonzalez Urrutia also briefed EU foreign ministers on the situation in Venezuela by video link during the meeting.

Borrell said the EU would “maintain close contact with and support the opposition”.

He added that the bloc would “continue supporting the dialogue and efforts of the regional partners, particularly Brazil and Colombia”.

“For me, a dialogue that initiates a democratic transition provides a guarantee to both sides, and it leads to the restoration of democracy,” Borrell added.