EU Calls for ‘Peaceful Path Forward’ in Venezuela, Backs Free and Fair Elections

For the international community, it is necessary that presidential and parliamentary elections be held in Venezuela.free, fair and credible» to overcome the current crisis. In this sense, the German government expressed its concern about the “setbacks” in the implementation of the Barbados Agreement.

In an ordinary press conference, the deputy foreign spokesman, Christian Wagner, recalled that Venezuela is mired in “a prolonged political and social crisis,” EFE reported. Furthermore, Wagner noted that “free, fair and credible” presidential and parliamentary elections are “the key to a peaceful and democratic future» in Venezuela.

In this sense, the German Government continues to support the demand for free elections, while expressing its concern about reports of continued human rights violations in Venezuela and the arbitrary detention of people close to opposition leaders.

He added that it is very clear that for free and fair presidential elections to be held, they must take place under adequate conditions, something that in fact the Nicolás Maduro regime and the opposition agreed upon in the so-called Barbados Agreement.

«We now see with concern that there are setbacks in the implementation of this agreement«he lamented.

Regarding the deliberate impediments denounced by the opposition to the registration of Corina Yoris as a candidate, Wagner stressed that if the accusations are confirmed in their entirety, “this would clearly contravene this Barbados Agreement” between the Government and the opposition.