The European Parliament is of the opinion that, until genuinely free and credible elections are held in Venezuela, the opposition leader Juan Guaidó remains legitimately “the interim president” of the Caribbean country and that the National Assembly elected in December 2015 is the only democratic and representative political body (see EUROPE 12639/10).
In a resolution adopted on Thursday 21 January and drawn up by the EPP, ECR and Renew Europe groups (391 votes in favour, 114 against, 177 abstentions), MEPs call on the Foreign Affairs Council, which will discuss the issue on Monday 25 January, to recognise what they consider to be constitutional continuity in Venezuela.
They call for the EU sanctions currently targeting 11 dignitaries of the Maduro regime to be “immediately strengthened and expanded”. And the illegal gold trade or “blood gold” should also be banned in the EU.
“Not recognising the legitimate Assembly means a victory for Maduro and gives him a blank check to prosecute the legitimate deputies for usurpation”, Jordi Cañas said in a statement.
At the start of January, the EU was of the opinion that the National Assembly as decided by the legislative elections of December 2020 was not legitimate (see EUROPE 12630/7). However, it did not go so far as to continue to consider the previous assembly as its legitimate counterpart.
The S&D group abstained in the final vote on the European Parliament resolution, expressing disappointment at the attempt by the three groups, supported by the Identity and Democracy group, to “undermine European unity” on Venezuela. The S&D group does not recognise the results of the parliamentary elections in December, but “recognises all political actors in the country, especially the outgoing National Assembly lead by Juan Guaidó”, said Javi López (S&D, Spain) in a statement.
See the resolution: https://bit.ly/2Y2pTUo (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)