- The request was made by the Spanish government, with the aim of having the European Union maintain its position in favour of transparency in the election results.
The European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council will address, at Spain’s request, the situation in Venezuela at its next meeting, with the aim of providing a unified response. This was announced on August 13 by Spanish Minister José Manuel Albares.
The minister explained in an appearance before the Spanish Senate that he maintains daily contact with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, with whom he has scheduled an informal meeting on 29 August.
The aim is for the EU to maintain its united position in favour of transparency in the results of the elections of 28 July in Venezuela, as well as respecting the democratic will of the Venezuelan people.
In an appearance before the Foreign Affairs Committee, Albares stressed that, from the first day after the presidential elections, the Spanish government has demanded the publication of the electoral records in its “firm and unwavering commitment to democracy and respect for human rights in Venezuela.”
Opposition party calls on EU to comment on Venezuelan election results
The president of the Popular Party and leader of the Spanish opposition, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, asked on August 12 to European Union makes a “stronger” statement on the situation in Venezuelaas well as the Spanish government leading a plan to recognize Edmundo González’s electoral victory.
In an interview for the Spanish radio station CopeFeijóo insisted that the Venezuelan opposition won the elections of July 28 and that therefore “Nicolás Maduro has lost,” which is why, in his opinion, a transition process should begin in the country.
Feijóo criticized the Maduro administration for using repression as a mechanism to silence dissenting voices. He added that this situation has left “too many innocent victims.”
Arrests in post-election protests
According to the Penal Forum, between July 29 and August 12, 1,315 people were confirmed arrested in the context of post-election protests.
Of that number, 117 are adolescents, 177 are women and 17 are people with disabilities.
The conservative leader stressed that Spain must lead a plan to recognise the results released by the Venezuelan opposition, which point to González’s victory. He also criticised the country for “following the instructions” of former socialist president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, whom he referred to as “a friend and intermediary of the Maduro regime”.
He regretted that Spain is “silent” and does not have a plan to resolve the Venezuelan crisis.
Several countries have asked the Venezuelan government to make the electoral records public in order to recognise the results, which, according to the National Electoral Council (CNE), give another victory to Maduro.
The EU’s position
On August 9, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Affairs Josep Borrell posted a message on his X account in which he considered the region’s efforts to mediate in the Venezuelan political crisis to be key.
“I am following the situation in Venezuela in contact with the UN Secretary General (António Guterres), Latin American countries and the opposition,” Borrell said. He added that the efforts of the region and the mediation led by Brazil, Colombia and Mexico are essential.
He reiterated the need for transparency and independent verification of the records, which is the responsibility of the National Electoral Council (CNE).
The head of EU diplomacy recalled that the EU “condemns the repression against the opposition and civil society in Venezuela.”
“The Maduro government must guarantee respect for human rights, put an end to arbitrary detentions and immediately release political prisoners,” he concluded.
With information from EFE
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2024-08-13 17:33:40
