The European Union does not recognise the new National Assembly, which is now controlled by the Maduro regime after the parliamentary elections in December (see EUROPE 12617/3), and considers that the leader of the opposition, Juan Guaidó, and other representatives of the outgoing National Assembly remain its partners in promoting a political solution to the political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
“The EU deeply regrets that the National Assembly assumed its mandate on 5 January on the basis of these non-democratic elections”, said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, in a statement. For us, the democratic partners representing the National Assembly are Juan Guaidó and the members elected in 2015, “because we do not recognise the new National Assembly”, added the spokesman, Peter Stano.
Of the 277 deputies in the new assembly, 256 are from the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. At the end of December, the elected members of the outgoing National Assembly presided by Mr Guaidó had voted to extend their mandate until credible presidential and legislative elections were held in order to guarantee institutional continuity (see EUROPE 12619/30). For the EU, the 2015 legislative elections, which gave control of the National Assembly to the opposition, are the last “free” electoral expression of the Venezuelan people.
In its statement, the EU warns that it stands ready to take “additional targeted measures”, promising to remain vigilant regarding any acts of repression that may be carried out, particularly against members of the political opposition. Mr Stano said that the Europeans will discuss their approach to Venezuela again “in the coming days and weeks”, in light of the latest events in the country, with a Foreign Affairs Council of the EU scheduled for Monday 25 January.
See the statement: http://bit.ly/2L74zKv (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)