President of the European Parliament met with Edmundo González

• The leader of Parliament avoided giving statements after the meeting with the Venezuelan leader | Photo: EFE

The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, met this Thursday in Madrid with Edmundo González, recognized by the European Parliament as legitimate president of Venezuela, although not by the member states of the European Union (EU).

Metsola participated for less than 10 minutes in a meeting that González held in Madrid with the leader of the Spanish Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo; the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida; and other party leaders, before participating in the closing of the FAES Foundation Forum.

The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, with the leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo (l), the former president José María Aznar (2i) and Edmundo González | Photo: EFE / JJ Guillén

Asked by EFE upon leaving the meeting, the Maltese politician avoided making statements about what marks her first contact in person with González.

The Venezuelan leader, who also did not make statements to the press, was received with an ovation and several rounds of applause at the FAES Foundation event, in which the former president of the Spanish government José María Aznar described him as “the elected president of Venezuela.” ”.

The recognition of Edmundo González by the European Parliament

On September 19, the European Parliament recognized Edmundo González as the legitimate and democratically elected president of Venezuela, in a non-binding text that was approved with the yeses of the European People’s Party, the ultra-conservatives and the right.

The resolution, approved with 309 votes in favor, 201 against and 12 abstentions, also recognized María Corina Machado as leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela and called on the European Union and its member states – who have jurisdiction in foreign policy – to join in recognizing Edmundo González.

Photo: EFE/EBS

However, due to an amendment by social democrats, liberals and greens, the text stops short of demanding that the European Union and its member states – who have competence in foreign policy – join in recognizing González.

In the text, the MEPs asked the European Union and its member states to do “the maximum possible” so that Edmundo González can assume the Presidency of Venezuela on January 10, 2025.

They also called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to include ongoing human rights violations and arbitrary detentions in its investigations into alleged crimes against humanity committed by the government of Nicolás Maduro.

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