Spanish Senate asks the Government to recognize González Urrutia as Venezuelan president

The Spanish Congress demanded that the government of that country ratify González’s victory / Photo: EFE

The Spanish Senate approved on Wednesday to urge the Government of Spain to recognize Edmundo González Urrutia as president of Venezuela and to promote before the International Criminal Court an arrest warrant against Nicolás Maduro and other “suspects” of crimes against humanity.

A motion promoted by the conservative Popular Party (PP), the main opposition party to Pedro Sánchez’s government that has an absolute majority in the Spanish upper house, has been approved with the support of the far-right Vox and Catalan nationalists, just a week after Congress approved a similar proposal.

In defence of the initiative, the Popular Party senator José Antonio Monago accused the Spanish government of “complicity” with the Maduro regime and “looking the other way” by hiding behind the electoral records to avoid recognising González Urrutia’s victory – pending his being granted political asylum in Spain – in the elections of 28 July.

Criticism of Zapatero

He also criticized the “shameful” role of former socialist president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who “is not a mediator” but rather “facilitates Maduro’s government,” a criticism that was constant from the right-wing benches.

The text of the motion approved by the Senate includes the request for the release of the two Spanish detainees in Venezuela, accused of belonging to the CNI and of preparing an attack against Nicolás Maduro, and the request for institutional support so that organizations working in Venezuela can carry out their solidarity work with the population of Spanish origin.

Listening to the debate in the guest gallery were Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, his father and his wife, Lilian Tintori.

Madrid / EFE