On Thursday 26 September, MEPs presented their candidates for the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize 2024, which awards individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to the defence of freedom of thought.
Venezuelan Edmundo González Urrutia was nominated by the ECR Group. According to Carlo Fidanza (Italian), Mr González, the “elected candidate” in the Venezuelan presidential election, “represents hope for the people of Venezuela”. He has also been nominated by the EPP Group, together with María Corina Machado, “representing all Venezuelans inside and outside the country fighting to re-establish freedom and democracy”. For Gabriel Mato (Spanish), we must “show support to the Venezuelans who continue to defend democracy in their homeland”.
The Renew Europe group nominated the Israeli association, Women Wage Peace, and the Palestinian association, Women of the Sun. A candidacy also put forward by the S&D, which is nominating their co-founders, Yael Admi and Reem Hajajreh, as well. “These are mothers who have come together to pursue a very noble goal: a peaceful future for their children, with the same rights, living in safety”, explained Sophie Wilmès (Renew Europe, Belgian).
For Chloé Ridel (S&D, French), “with this nomination, we want to reward their courage in continuing to talk to each other even when it is very difficult, even when the suffering is immense”.
Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, an Azerbaijani anti-corruption campaigner and critic of the fossil fuel industry, has been nominated by the Greens/EFA. According to Catarina Vieira (Dutch), honouring him will allow us “to denounce the growing violation of human rights in Azerbaijan and the ‘green washing’ underway in this country”, which will host COP 29 at the end of November.
The Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations groups have nominated Elon Musk, “an ardent defender of freedom of expression, a battle he is waging with remarkable intensity”, according to Thierry Mariani (PfE, French). For Alexander Sell (ESN, German), “millions of people can express their opinions freely thanks to him”.
Finally, the journalists in Palestine (Hamza & Wael Al-Dahdouh, Plestia Alaqad, Shireen Abu Akleh and Ain Media in honour of Yasser Murtaja & Roshdi Sarraj) are nominated by The Left group. “This nomination pays tribute to all the journalists killed in conflict zones around the world. It is in Palestine that 70% of journalists were killed in 2023”, explained Rima Hassan (French). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)