The vice is tightening around the opposition to the Nicolás Maduro regime. After the arrest of the Chief of Staff of the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, the Venezuelan authorities declared the self-proclaimed President Juan Guaidó ineligible for 15 years on Thursday 28 March, considering that he was unable to justify the origin of the funds that enabled him to make numerous trips abroad.
“It is definitely a move that aims at undermining the search for a democratic outcome of this crisis”, said the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, from Quito, where she participated in the second ministerial meeting of the International Contact Group on Venezuela (see EUROPE 12224/5). In her view, such “politically motivated” actions often occur “when some steps forward are made on the way to a peaceful and democratic outcome, those that might not share this approach take actions to undermine it”.
Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Valencia Amores, criticised an “arbitrary” decision that demonstrates “the lack of separation of powers” in Venezuela.
Nevertheless, the progress made by the international contact group in creating the conditions for a political solution to the crisis that would be led by the Venezuelans themselves remains “limited”, according to Ms Mogherini herself.
That is why the contact group, composed of eight EU Member States and four Latin American countries, decided to “intensify” work in this area by increasing contacts with all Venezuelan, regional and international actors, even if, the High Representative acknowledged, the sanction imposed on Mr Guaidó, which he considers void, “does not help at all”.
The objective remains for the members of the group to present to Venezuelan political actors the elements of a “roadmap” that would allow a smooth political transition in Venezuela, giving the people the opportunity to express themselves in new presidential elections.
In its declaration adopted unanimously by its members, except Bolivia, the contact group mentions the following elements: - the reform of key institutions such as the National Electoral Council and the Supreme Court of Justice; - the possibility for all political parties to participate in elections; - an update of the voters' register to include young people and Venezuelans abroad; - a reform of the electoral framework to allow the deployment of external observers.
“It's not only the day of the elections. It is also the preparation for it”, said Ms Mogherini.
The results of the work of the International Contact Group are more visible in the delivery of humanitarian aid. Under the aegis of the United Nations, a coordination team including national and international organisations has been set up to intensify the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Venezuelans who have remained in the country or who have taken refuge in neighbouring countries.
Within the 'Quito process', twelve Latin American countries are engaged in dialogue and cooperation to manage the flow of the 3 million Venezuelans who have fled their country. Mr Valencia Amores cited actions aimed at “recognising identity documents” to facilitate the movement of refugees in situations of “great distress”
The next meeting of the international contact group will take place in early May in Costa Rica. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)