CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro yesterday ordered the European Union envoy to leave the country, hours after the EU announced sanctions against several officials loyal to the socialist leader.

The EU subjected 11 officials to financial sanctions, citing their actions against the democratic functioning of Venezuela’s National Assembly.

Maduro gave the EU envoy, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, 72 hours to leave the country after the sanctions were announced.

Also on the EU sanctions list were Juan Jose Mendoza, president of the Supreme Court’s constitutional chamber, and General Jose Ornelas, head of the National Defense Council.

The EU said the 11 individuals “are particularly responsible for acting against the National Assembly’s democratic functioning, including stripping parliamentary immunity from several of its members.”