Venezuela: European Parliament recognizes the opponent’s victory – 09/19/2024 – Al-Alam

In a symbolic gesture, the European Parliament recognized, on Thursday (19), former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez as the “legitimate and democratically elected president” of Venezuela in the last presidential elections held in the South American country at the end of July.

The resolution, approved by the EU’s legislative branch by 309 votes to 201 with 12 abstentions, was a victory for the European People’s Party – the traditional right-wing representative which, despite having the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives, was joined by its far-right allies to approve the document after abandoning negotiations with other powers.

The breaking point in the agreement was precisely the recognition of González as president, a strategy used with opponent Juan Guaido in 2019 and now considered ineffective by parliamentarians.

The text thus attempts to break with the position that the European bloc has so far adopted of not recognizing the victory of the former diplomat nor that of his opponent in the elections, dictator Nicolás Maduro. Although it asks the EU and its member states to follow the decision, the document does not have the necessary force to oblige the parties to follow this position.

The 75-year-old challenger recorded a video thanking the organization. “We Venezuelans want the same thing that Europeans have been able to achieve in our time: to live in freedom and democracy under the rule of law,” he said.

“As president-elect, I thank the European Parliament for this recognition that transcends me; it is the recognition of the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people and the resounding voice of the majority demanding respect for the truth,” the former president wrote in the text accompanying the video.

González has been in Spain since the beginning of the month, where he has requested political asylum after an arrest warrant was issued for him in his home country, something that the parliament also condemned in the resolution. In effect, Thursday’s vote echoes what happened in the Spanish Congress a week ago, when the chamber approved a motion recognizing the victory of Maduro’s opponent despite a veto vote from the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, former minister Pedro Sánchez.

The Venezuelan regime accuses Gonzalez of conspiracy, usurpation of functions, incitement to rebellion and sabotage in a case investigating the opposition for publishing the minutes of the election vote.

According to the documents, which have been verified by several independent organizations, González won the election — a result that contradicts the National Electoral Council, a body equipped by Chavismo and mentioned in the resolution approved by the European bloc on Thursday.

In an interview published Wednesday, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said Maduro’s only option was to negotiate a democratic transition. “It is necessary to do it,” she said. [Maduro] We understand that repression and crimes against humanity have consequences. Your best option, your only option, is to accept the terms of negotiations with us for a transition to democracy.”