The European Parliament will adopt a new resolution on Thursday 16 January in which it will call on the European Union to adopt additional sanctions against leaders of the Maduro regime in response to the aborted election of Luis Parra as President of the National Assembly, which it describes as an "attempted parliamentary coup" (see EUROPE 12401/3).
Parliament calls on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, to step up efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela, "including through the extension of targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for human rights violations and repression", says a joint draft resolution by the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe and ECR groups.
The latest political incidents in Venezuela require "a strong response" from the EU, but "targeted sanctions cannot be the only instrument", Mr Borrell said on Tuesday 14 January in Strasbourg during the plenary debate. "Even if (...) we don't see any prospects for a short-term solution to the impasse, we must continue to try to create a political space for negotiation" in preparation for new presidential elections in Venezuela, he added.
On behalf of the EPP Group, Spain's Leopoldo López Gil, father of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, called for Parliament to continue to recognise Juan Guaidó as President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, the country's only opposition stronghold, and as legitimate interim President of Venezuela. Spaniards Javi López (S&D) and Jordi Cañas (Renew Europe) are in agreement. Hermann Tertsch (CRE, Spain) expressed alarm at the links between the Maduro regime and the Spanish communists now in power in Spain.
On the other hand, Manu Pineda (GUE/NGL, Spain) said it was "curious" that Parliament was supporting Mr Guaidó, who had lost - in his view - the support of an opposition majority as the National Assembly had elected Luis Parra, "another opponent" as President.
The election of Mr Parra, who did not follow the procedures, is "not legitimate", Mr Borrell replied.
The adoption of new European sanctions against the Maduro regime could take place as early as Monday 20 January at the Foreign Affairs Council.
See the text of the joint resolution: http://bit.ly/2QWBEZR (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)