Discussions in the European Parliament on the role of the European Union in finding a solution to the Venezuelan political crisis turned again into a clash between the Spanish left and right on Wednesday 7 October.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, tried to convince Spanish MEPs of the EPP, Renew Europe and ECR groups that the mission of two diplomats from the European External Action Service sent to Caracas in mid-September was “not clandestine” (see EUROPE 12568/17 ).
Like the three previous missions of the International Contact Group, this mission, Borrell said, had been requested by Juan Guaidó and communicated to all Member States. It provided an opportunity to meet with the Maduro regime, the political opposition, the Church, the private sector and the academic world. The Church advocates opposition participation in the parliamentary elections on 6 December so as not to give free rein to Nicolás Maduro.
According to the High Representative, the objective was clear: to convey to the Maduro regime the EU’s position that, in order to create the conditions for the holding of democratic parliamentary elections which would allow the EU to observe the elections, a postponement of several months was necessary.
Postponing the elections would “keep the door open for political negotiations “, Borrell said. Nevertheless, he added, the fact that Caracas refuses this possibility aggravates the political crisis in the country and puts an end to any consideration of sending an election observation mission.
To the left of the Chamber, the S&D, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups supported the EU’s willingness to discuss with all political forces. On the right, the EPP, Renew Europe and ECR groups believe that the mission legitimised the Maduro regime.
“A string of lies and half-truths don’t make a truth!”, Dolors Montserrat (EPP, Spain) told Mr Borrell. The latter replied: “You have organised a baseless scandal just to stir up and, I fear, fight the Spanish government. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)