On further repression against the democratic forces in Venezuela: attacks on presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado

B90097/2024

European Parliament resolution on further repression against the democratic forces in Venezuela: attacks on presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado

(2024/2549(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Venezuela,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to other UN human rights treaties and instruments,

– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

– having regard to the statement by the Spokesperson of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 29 January 2024 on banning opposition politicians in Venezuela,

– having regard to the statement of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States of 28 January 2024 on recent events in Venezuela,

– having regard to the statement of the spokesperson of the US Department of State of 27 January 2024 on the Venezuelan Supreme Court rulings and the Barbados Agreement,

– having regard to the first report of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, published on 16 September 2020,

– having regard to the Venezuelan Constitution,

– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Venezuela’s 2024 elections could have been a turning point towards a return to democracy in the country; whereas civil and political rights continue to be violated in Venezuela, which has engendered years of instability and violence; whereas over seven million people have been forced to leave the country;

B. whereas public information, freedom of opinion and expression and the right to assembly have been systematically restricted;

C. whereas on 17 October 2023, the Maduro regime and the democratic opposition in Venezuela signed two agreements, known as the Barbados agreements, which covered matters including the promotion of political rights and electoral guarantees for all and the release of political prisoners;

D. whereas on 22 October 2023, María Corina Machado was selected as the presidential candidate of the democratic opposition to the regime, winning more than 92 % of the votes in the primary election;

E. whereas for several months, María Corina Machado, members of her staff – including Juan Freites, Luis Camacaro and Guillermo López, who have been unlawfully detained – civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and other political players in the democratic opposition to the regime were targeted by arbitrary and politically motivated attempts to disqualify them from holding public office; whereas the process to reinstate María Corina Machado lacked basic elements, as she neither received a copy of the allegations against her nor was afforded the opportunity to respond to those allegations; whereas the regime’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) published a summary of its decision, which has no legal basis, on its webpage; whereas the Venezuelan Constitution stipulates that individuals cannot have their political rights restricted by administrative decisions, nor be barred from holding public office by such decisions; whereas the regime’s TJS was therefore unable to pass a constitutionally sound judgment in this matter;

F. whereas these arbitrary decisions are inconsistent with the commitment by Nicolás Maduro’s representatives to hold a competitive Venezuelan presidential election in 2024, as well as going against the recommendations of the EU election observation mission (EOM) and severely restricting Venezuelans’ right to choose their representatives;

G. whereas the Maduro regime denied the Chief Observer of the EU EOM entry to Venezuela to present the final report for the regional and municipal elections that took place in 2021, because the EU EOM had been expelled from the country;

H. whereas in late 2023, the Maduro regime orchestrated an international clash with neighbouring Guyana over the territory of the Essequibo region, organised a spurious national referendum on the sovereignty of the territory, and, by mobilising troops, unnecessarily increased regional tensions; whereas this was an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing internal repression against the democratic opposition, among others;

I. whereas the regime, through the attorney-general, has brought trumped-up charges of treason and involvement in an assassination plot against several individuals, including human rights defender Tamara Sujú, journalist Sebastiana Barráez, former mayor of Caracas Antonio Ledezma, political leader Leopoldo López, former interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaidó and former mayor David Smolansky, for simply exercising their freedom to express their opposition to the regime;

1. Strongly condemns the attempts to disqualify the presidential candidate of the democratic opposition to the regime, María Corina Machado, and others, such as Henrique Capriles, from holding public office;

2. Underlines that the statement by the regime’s TSJ is unconstitutional and illegal, since it stems from arbitrary and politically motivated allegations, and that the procedure that was followed did not comply with the law; stresses that the presidential candidate of the democratic opposition, María Corina Machado, has neither received a copy of the allegations against her nor been afforded the opportunity to respond to those allegations; considers, therefore, that the decision by the regime’s TSJ has no legal grounds or validity and that María Corina Machado remains eligible to stand for election;

3. Believes that these actions constitute a clear attempt at dictatorial political persecution, which violates the civil and political rights of the Venezuelan people, and that these predictable actions, particularly given the regime’s track record, once more shatter any prospect of free and fair elections;

4. Condemns the regime’s ceaseless attempts to undermine the electoral process; urges all parties to adhere to and respect the Barbados agreements, as they constitute a clear roadmap for a return to democracy and stability;

5. Recalls the appalling social, economic and humanitarian conditions that have prevailed in Venezuela for years, which Venezuelans have been enduring for too long; condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the constant repression, systematic torture and violations of human, civil and political rights in the country; condemns the constant attacks on the Venezuelan people and on human rights defenders;

6. Calls for an independent nomination procedure for appointments to Venezuela’s National Electoral Council;

7. Recognises the efforts of the opposition to the regime to organise primary elections as a democratic solution for Venezuelans domestically and abroad; urges the Venezuelan authorities to provide the conditions to ensure fair, free, inclusive and transparent elections; recalls that María Corina Machado is the only acceptable and legitimate candidate who can compete against the regime on behalf of the democratic opposition forces, and the only one who garnered the support of an overwhelming majority of voters in the primary election; recalls that the EU and the international community should not and cannot accept any alternative candidate from among the ranks of the democratic opposition to compete against the regime’s nominated candidate;

8. Fully supports the International Criminal Court investigations into the Venezuelan regime’s extensive crimes and acts of repression and calls for the EU to support the investigations, currently being considered under the Rome Statute, into the alleged crimes against humanity in the country in order to hold those responsible to account;

9. Calls for the EU to support a return to democracy in Venezuela and to press the Venezuelan regime to release all political prisoners;

10. Urges the Member States not to ease the sanctions against the Maduro regime, but rather insists that the sanctions should be stepped up until there is a clear and permanent commitment to uphold basic democratic standards, the rule of law, and human rights; calls for further targeted sanctions, through the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EU Magnitsky Act), against the members of the regime’s TSJ and against all other individuals involved in or close to the regime who are perpetuating human rights violations in Venezuela;

11. Considers that the EU can only send an electoral observation mission to Venezuela if María Corina Machado is the main presidential candidate of the democratic opposition to the regime and if the minimum conditions for free, transparent and fair elections are met; believes that these minimum electoral conditions are not being upheld in any way, following the breach of the Barbados agreements;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit participants, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, the Organization of American States, the UN Secretary-General and the Venezuelan authorities.