Prime Minister of Italy will demand the release of Venezuelan political prisoners before the EU Council

• The representative of the Italian government insisted that she does not recognize the victory of Nicolás Maduro in the July 28 elections | Photo: EFE

Giorgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister, assured on October 15 that she will insist on the need to demand the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela during the next Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels (October 17 and 18), in which the situation in the country will be addressed.

“We do not recognize the proclaimed victory of (Nicolás) Maduro after a non-transparent election and we continue to condemn the unacceptable repression of the regime, demanding the release of all political prisoners,” said Meloni in his appearance in the Senate to explain the Italian position in the summit of European leaders.

For the Italian government, the result of the elections held on July 28 in Venezuela announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE), and which declared Maduro the winner, lacks credibility and democratic legitimacy. In that sense, he insists on requesting the publication of the electoral records.

Italy, in its capacity as acting president of the G7, the group of most industrialized democracies on the planet, has insisted on the importance of the international community supporting the Venezuelan opposition.

Who makes up the G7 group?

-Italia
-Germany
-Canada
-USA
-France
-Japan
-United Kingdom

“We have reiterated it in all G7 communications during our presidency. Together with the EU we work for a democratic and peaceful transition in the country, so that the will of the millions of Venezuelans who continue to risk their lives for a more democratic, prosperous and secure future can finally be realized,” Meloni added.

Interest in the situation in Venezuela

The Italian Prime Minister insisted that the situation in Venezuela is of interest to her government, among other things, due to the presence of citizens of Italian origin who are in the country.

“We are particularly interested, also because of the many citizens of Italian origin who are in a land that even the name unites with Venice and Italy,” he added.

Photo: EFE/EPA/GIUSEPPE LAMI

In his speech at the UN Assembly, which took place in September, Meloni urged the international community not to remain “impassive” about the situation in Venezuela. He stressed that a “brutal repression” is being carried out in the country.

He also urged us to raise our voices in the face of the death of dozens of protesters, the “arbitrary detention of thousands of opponents,” and the indictment and exile of Edmundo González.

EU Council meeting

EU leaders will meet on October 17 and 18 in Brussels to discuss the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East, as well as issues related to competitiveness and migration.

The political and social crisis in Venezuela is also expected to be included on the agenda.

This Council assured in August that it did not recognize Maduro as president-elect in the July 28 elections, since the authorities had not published the minutes confirming his victory.

Concern about worsening crisis

On August 24, the Council of the European Union issued a statement indicating that the organization remains concerned about the worsening of the post-election crisis in Venezuela.

The organization explained that to date the CNE had not provided the public evidence necessary to evaluate the electoral process according to the standards indicated by the panel of experts from the United Nations (UN), who visited the country to observe the presidential elections. .

The statement also referred to the ruling of the Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) that ratified the results announced by the CNE, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner of the presidential elections.

“In light of the TSJ ruling, it is worth remembering that the CNE is the body legally and constitutionally responsible for the transparent and detailed publication of the official electoral results,” the Council agreed.

The statement reiterates that the European body will only recognize complete and independently verified results. The council hopes that respect for the will of the Venezuelan people can be guaranteed.

With information from EFE

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