The European Parliament will debate the situation in Venezuela on Tuesday and will vote on Thursday on a resolution on the European Union’s response to the political crisis in the country following the presidential elections that the majority opposition claims were won by its standard-bearer, Edmundo González Urrutia, currently in exile in Spain.
The debate at the plenary session in Strasbourg (France), scheduled for Tuesday at 17:30 local time, was requested by the European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Patriots and Renew Europe groups.
The EU refuses to recognise the victory of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the 28 July elections, as declared by the country’s National Electoral Council (CNE), due to the lack of evidence because not all the electoral records have been published.
On the 8th, on the occasion of González Urrutia’s exile in Spain, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, said that “Edmundo González appears to be the winner of the presidential elections, by a large majority, according to the copies of the electoral records available to the public.”
And five days later, on the 13th, Borrell stressed that the EU does not recognise the “democratic legitimacy” of Maduro’s government since “it says it has won the elections without proving it.”
Recognition
At a press conference in Madrid, the head of European diplomacy recalled that the EU cannot recognise governments or states because they are a power of the member states, but what it can do is “recognise the democratic legitimacy of those who hold power, territorial control, the army, the police…”
That control, “in fact, was Maduro’s before the elections and remains Maduro’s after the elections. But we do not consider him a person who can claim democratic legitimacy for the power he holds,” Borrell added.
The different political groups in the European Parliament will try to agree on a common resolution to be put to a vote – they have until Wednesday at noon to present it – but they start from different positions on the recognition of González Urrutia.
The EPP’s motion for a resolution, to which EFE had access, urges member states and the EU to recognise the opposition candidate as the “legitimate and democratically elected president of Venezuela” and to do “everything possible” to ensure that he can take office on 10 January 2025.
The Popular Party also asks the EU and the Twenty-Seven to “request an international arrest warrant against Nicolás Maduro for crimes against humanity” and that specific sanctions be applied to him and all those responsible for human rights violations in the country.
Regarding the resolution, Borrell recalled that the recognitions “may have a symbolic value” but “do not change reality.”
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The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) are working on their draft proposal with the aim of reaching a consensus in the European Parliament “to have a solid resolution” together, said the group’s president, Iratxe García, last Thursday.
The group’s vice-president Yannis Maniatis gave hints in a statement on Friday about where the Socialists and Democrats’ proposal will go.
The S&D does not recognise the results of the last Venezuelan elections until Maduro presents “proof” of his election, as the “real numbers” indicate that “González Urrutia won the elections” and considers that “now is the time for the EU to step up its action and increase sanctions against the regime”, including “Maduro himself”, said Maniatis.
Meanwhile, from the liberal group of Renew Europe, the MEP of EAJ-PNV Oihane Agirregoitia promoted a resolution in which she requests to recognize Edmundo González as the “winner” of the presidential elections in Venezuela and to denounce the “seriousness” of the situation that the country is going through due to the repression of the “dictatorship” of Maduro, with more than two thousand “arbitrary” arrests after the elections.
The deadline for the groups in the European Parliament to submit their motions for resolutions ends on Monday at 19:00 local time.
Brussels / EFE
#European #Parliament #debate #Venezuela #situation #Tuesday
2024-09-18 21:56:28
– What are the key issues the EU Parliament will address regarding the Venezuela crisis in their upcoming debate?
Table of Contents
EU Parliament to Debate and Vote on Venezuela Crisis Amidst Electoral Dispute
The European Parliament is set to debate the situation in Venezuela on Tuesday and vote on a resolution on Thursday, addressing the European Union’s response to the political crisis in the country following the disputed presidential elections. The debate, scheduled for 17:30 local time in Strasbourg, France, was requested by the European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Patriots, and Renew Europe groups.
The European Union has refused to recognize the victory of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the July 28 elections, citing a lack of evidence as not all electoral records have been published. This move has been met with support from various EU member states, who are calling for transparency and democratic legitimacy in the electoral process.
EU High Representative’s Stance
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has been vocal in his criticism of the Maduro government, stating that “Edmundo González appears to be the winner of the presidential elections, by a large majority, according to the copies of the electoral records available to the public.” Borrell emphasized that the EU does not recognize the “democratic legitimacy” of Maduro’s government, as it has failed to provide proof of its electoral victory.
Recognition and Democratic Legitimacy
The EU’s stance on recognition is crucial in this situation. While the EU cannot recognize governments or states, it can recognize the democratic legitimacy of those in power. Borrell explained that the EU’s recognition is not about “giving a certificate of democratic legitimacy to a government, but about recognizing the control of power, territorial control, the army, the police…” In the case of Venezuela, the EU does not consider Maduro to have democratic legitimacy, despite his control over the government and its institutions.
European Parliament’s Resolution
The European Parliament will attempt to agree on a common resolution to be put to a vote. The EPP’s motion for a resolution urges member states and the EU to recognize González Urrutia as the “legitimate and democratically elected president of Venezuela” and to take all necessary measures to ensure he can take office on January 10, 2025. The resolution also calls for an international arrest warrant against Maduro for crimes against humanity and specific sanctions against him and those responsible for human rights violations in Venezuela.
Socialists and Democrats’ Proposal
The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) are working on their own draft proposal, aiming to reach a consensus in the European Parliament. S&D Vice-President Yannis Maniatis hinted that their proposal will not recognize the results of the last Venezuelan elections until Maduro presents “proof” of his election, suggesting that the “real numbers” indicate González Urrutia won the elections.
Renew Europe’s Stance
Meanwhile, the liberal group Renew Europe is also working on its own proposal, which is expected to call for increased sanctions against the Maduro regime, including against the president himself.
Implications and Next Steps
The European Parliament’s debate and vote on the Venezuela crisis come at a critical time, as the country faces a deepening political and economic crisis. The EU’s response to the situation will have far-reaching implications for the people of Venezuela and the international community. As the situation continues to unfold, the EU must remain committed to promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Venezuela.
SEO Keywords: European Parliament, Venezuela, political crisis, presidential elections, EU response, Nicolas Maduro, Edmundo González Urrutia, Josep Borrell, democratic legitimacy, recognition, sanctions, human rights, European Union.
What are the implications of the European Parliament’s upcoming vote on the Venezuela crisis?
European Parliament to Debate Venezuela Crisis: A Critical Vote on the Horizon
The European Parliament is set to engage in a crucial debate on the situation in Venezuela on Tuesday, with a vote scheduled for Thursday on a resolution addressing the European Union’s response to the country’s political crisis. This development comes in the wake of the disputed presidential elections, which the opposition claims were won by Edmundo González Urrutia, currently in exile in Spain.
Debate and Resolution
The debate, requested by the European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and the Patriots and Renew Europe groups, will take place at the plenary session in Strasbourg, France, on Tuesday at 17:30 local time. The EU has refused to recognize the victory of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, citing a lack of evidence due to the non-publication of all electoral records.
The European Parliament will vote on a resolution that aims to address the EU’s response to the political crisis in Venezuela. The different political groups have drafted their own motions for a resolution, which will be merged into a single document before the vote. While the groups start from different positions on the recognition of González Urrutia, they all agree that the EU must take a firm stance on the situation in Venezuela.
Recognition of González Urrutia
The EPP’s motion for a resolution calls on member states and the EU to recognize González Urrutia as the “legitimate and democratically elected president of Venezuela” and to take all necessary steps to ensure he can take office on January 10, 2025. The group also demands an international arrest warrant against Maduro for crimes against humanity and specific sanctions against him and those responsible for human rights violations in the country.
The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) are working on a draft proposal that aims to reach a consensus in the European Parliament and have a solid resolution. While their proposal does not recognize the results of the last Venezuelan elections, it demands that Maduro present “proof” of his election, citing that the “real numbers” indicate that González Urrutia won the elections.
EU’s Stance on Maduro’s Government
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has been vocal about the EU’s refusal to recognize the “democratic legitimacy” of Maduro’s government. Borrell stressed that the EU cannot recognize governments or states, but it can recognize the democratic legitimacy of those who hold power. In the case of Venezuela, the EU does not consider Maduro’s government to have democratic legitimacy.
Consequences of the Vote
The outcome of the vote on Thursday will have significant implications for the EU’s stance on the Venezuela crisis. A resolution in support of González Urrutia’s recognition could put pressure on EU member states to take a more active role in addressing the crisis. The vote will also send a strong message to Maduro’s government, making it clear that the EU does not recognize its legitimacy.
the European Parliament’s debate and vote on the situation in Venezuela mark a critical moment in the EU’s response to the crisis. The outcome of the vote will have far-reaching consequences, not only for the people of Venezuela but also for the EU’s role in promoting democracy and human rights around the world.
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Venezuela crisis
Edmundo González Urrutia
Nicolas Maduro
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Patriots and Renew Europe groups
Democratic legitimacy
Human rights violations
International arrest warrant
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The European Parliament is set to debate and vote on a resolution addressing the EU’s response to the Venezuela crisis. The outcome will have significant implications for the EU’s stance on the crisis and could put pressure on EU member states to take action.
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