On Friday 31 March, several European leaders strongly criticised the decision by the Venezuelan Supreme Court to remove until future notice the legislative powers of the country’s national assembly, where opposition to the Maduro regime holds the majority.
The president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, regretted the attitude of the powers in place that has turned democracy into a backward step, against the tide of the process that began in Latin America a few years back. He called for respect of democracy, human rights, principles inscribed in the constitution and the separation of powers – a democracy that respects its own constitution. He said he had given his support to Julio Borges, the Venezuelan National Assembly’s speaker, by telephone.
Spanish socialist MEPs Ramón Jáuregui Atondo and Francisco Assis, condemned the "attack" on democracy by the Venezuelan Supreme Court and urged the Maduro government to find an "immediate" political solution, restoring the normal functioning of the institutions. The two MEPs added that these recent events add to a long history of politically-motivated rulings, violent repression of the opposition and clear incapacity to restore economic, social and democratic peace. They also said that they condemned these event in the strongest possible manner.
The day before, a spokesperson for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini called for the establishment of a clear timeline for elections. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)