On Thursday 8 February, the European Parliament took the view that the European Union should not recognise the result of the elections in Venezuela in the second half of 2024 if the political opposition, in particular María Corina Machado, is not allowed to participate and if the Maduro regime ignores the EU recommendations made in 2021 following the observation of the local elections (see EUROPE 12839/31).
In its resolution, adopted by a large majority (446 votes in favour, 21 against, 32 abstentions), the European Parliament takes the view that EU sanctions against the Maduro regime should be “stepped up until there is a clear and permanent commitment, in line with the Barbados Agreement, to uphold basic democratic standards and the rule of law”.
These new targeted sanctions, it adds, should be imposed using the EU’s human rights sanctions regime (‘Magnitsky Act’) against “the judges of the Supreme Court of Venezuela” involved in the ruling that upheld Maria Corina Machado’s ineligibility, and against members of the Venezuelan security forces involved in the systematic abuse of government opponents.
On behalf of the EPP group, the Spanish-Venezuelan Leopoldo Lopez Gil said in a press release that the Venezuelan Supreme Court ruling illustrates the Maduro regime’s desire to prevent any return to democracy in Venezuela.
See the European Parliament resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/arm (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)