The high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, told EFE this Tuesday that the solution to the crisis in Venezuela can only be “political” and has to arise “from international pressure.”
“The solution to Venezuela can only be political. It has to arise from international pressure,” Borrell said in a statement to EFE after participating in a debate on the situation in the Middle East in the plenary session of the European Parliament.
The head of European diplomacy stressed that the current Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, “apparently, according to his plans”, will take office again next January, by virtue of electoral results from the elections of July 28 that the most of the international community does not recognize.
“We do not recognize that it has democratic legitimacy. This is what the European Parliament has said, it is not recognized. And the next European Council, which is the holder of competence in matters of foreign policy, will say so,” Borrell advanced.
At the next European Council, scheduled for October 17 and 18, the heads of state and government of the EU will discuss the Venezuelan crisis, at the request of Spain.
“The issue of Venezuela is going to be discussed and I am convinced that the same thing that has already emerged from the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the European Parliament will emerge. That is, not recognizing the democratic legitimacy of Mr. Maduro, who has been , he says, elected by the Venezuelans; everything shows that it has not been like that,” said the Spanish politician.
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Asked if he thinks it is a good idea for the opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, who is in exile in Spain and claims to have won the elections on July 28 based on the voting records held by the opposition, to go to Venezuela on January 10 to take office as president, Borrell avoided making a statement and considered the possibility of inviting him to the next Foreign Affairs Council on October 14 in Luxembourg.
“Well, I don’t know, frankly (if it’s a good idea to go to Venezuela). I don’t know what his plans are. We invited him to come to the Foreign Affairs Council (last August 29), he appeared by videoconference; now that he’s in Europe, I would be willing to invite him again,” said Borrell.
And he suggested that “it would not be a bad idea” for the European Parliament to invite the Venezuelan opposition leader, whose name is among those proposed for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Conscience, which will be decided on October 24.
In any case, Borrell was “not very supportive” of possible sanctions against Venezuela that could affect the population.
“I am not in favor of imposing sanctions that affect the people, that affect the citizens, the Venezuelan people,” he stated, and gave as an example those that weigh against Cuba and “that have not served to change the political regime.” “, but “they have caused enormous suffering in the Cuban population.”
“We, in the United Nations, every year the European Union requests the lifting of the blockade of Cuba. So, we must be careful that the sanctions do not have an undesirable effect,” he warned, after pointing out that against the leaders of the Maduro regime “Many have already been taken” and he said he does not know “how many more can be taken.”
At the moment, sanctions do not appear in the draft conclusions of the summit of European leaders.
The Twenty-Seven will signal that they will only accept and recognize the complete and independently verifiable results of the July 28, 2024 elections, while urging the Venezuelan authorities to respect the democratic will of the Venezuelan people and end the violence.
The European Union is ready to support a constructive and inclusive transition with guarantees for both sides to resolve the country’s political deadlock and restore democratic institutions peacefully, according to draft summit conclusions.
Caracas / EFE
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Analysis: The Venezuelan Crisis and the EU’s Stance on Maduro’s Legitimacy
The Venezuelan crisis has been a long-standing issue, with the country facing high levels of inflation, poverty, and repression [[1]]. The ongoing socioeconomic and political crisis began during the presidency of Hugo Chávez and has worsened during the presidency of his successor, Nicolás Maduro [[2]]. The situation has been exacerbated by the lack of recognition of Maduro’s democratic legitimacy by the international community.
According to Josep Borrell, the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, the solution to the crisis can only be “political” and has to arise “from international pressure” [[article]]. This statement highlights the EU’s stance on the issue, which is aligned with the majority of the international community. The EU does not recognize Maduro’s democratic legitimacy, citing the lack of democratic processes and the electoral results from the elections of July 28 that are disputed by many.
The EU’s stance is not surprising, given the crisis in Venezuela has been ongoing for years, with high levels of inflation, poverty, and repression [[1]]. The crisis has also led to a significant humanitarian crisis, with many Venezuelans fleeing the country in search of better living conditions.
The EU’s position on the issue is set to be discussed at the next European Council, scheduled for October 17 and 18 [[article]]. The heads of state and government of the EU will discuss the Venezuelan crisis, at the request of Spain. Borrell has advanced that the same stance that has already emerged from the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the European Parliament will emerge, that is, not recognizing the democratic legitimacy of Maduro.
In addition to the EU’s stance, the opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, who claims to have won the elections on July 28, has been invited to the next Foreign Affairs Council on October 14 in Luxembourg [[article]]. This move highlights the EU’s efforts to engage with the opposition and to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
the Venezuelan crisis is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive solution. The EU’s stance on the issue, as expressed by Borrell, highlights the importance of international pressure in resolving the crisis. The upcoming European Council will provide a crucial opportunity for the EU to reinforce its position and to call for a political solution to the crisis.
References:
[1] Crisis Group, ”Venezuela”, [[https://www.crisisgroup.org/latin-america-caribbean/andes/venezuela]]
[2] Wikipedia, “Crisis in Venezuela”, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_in_Venezuela]]
[3] French Wikipedia, “Crise du Venezuela”, [[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crise_du_Venezuela]]
