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

B90100/2024

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 final report of the EU election observation mission to Venezuela on the regional and municipal elections of 21 November 2021,

– having regard to the statement by the Spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS) of 29 January 2024 on banning opposition politicians in Venezuela,

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

A. whereas the upcoming elections in Venezuela should represent a turning point towards a democratic transition;

B. whereas the country is experiencing continued institutional, economic and political instability; whereas more than seven million people have left Venezuela in search of protection and a better life;

C. whereas there have been systematic restrictions on public information, freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful assembly, particularly for dissidents, trade unionists, human rights defenders and the most vulnerable members of society;

D. whereas on 30 June 2023, Venezuela’s Comptroller General announced that opposition leader María Corina Machado had been barred from holding public office for 15 years;

E. whereas in October 2023, María Corina Machado was formally declared the winner of the Venezuelan opposition’s weekend presidential primary, making her the opposition’s unity candidate for the 2024 presidential election;

F. whereas in October 2023, the Maduro government and the opposition reached a deal in Barbados in which they agreed that free and fair presidential elections would be held in the second half of 2024;

G. whereas in light of this important development, the US Treasury issued a licence to temporarily allow transactions involving Venezuela’s oil and gas sector; whereas this was conditional on the fulfilment of the commitments made in Barbados, which included the lifting of the bans imposed on María Corina Machado and a number of other opposition candidates;

H. whereas on 26 January 2024, Venezuela’s Supreme Court upheld the 15-year ban on María Corina Machado running for public office, thus preventing her from exercising her core political rights, and undermining democracy and the rule of law;

I. whereas as a consequence, the US has threatened to reinstate sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector;

1. Calls for the full implementation of the Barbados Agreement and the continuation of an inclusive dialogue process that can lead to fair and competitive elections in 2024;

2. Welcomes the decision by the parties to the Venezuelan-led negotiation process to remain at the negotiating table;

3. Condemns the administrative decisions intended to prevent members of the opposition from exercising their core political rights;

4. Reaffirms its commitment to full respect for the fundamental rights of the Venezuelan people and the rule of law; calls on the Venezuelan authorities to promote reforms to align legislation with international standards in order to strengthen freedom of association through an environment that is conducive to the participation of civic associations in public life;

5. Calls on the Venezuelan authorities to initiate an inclusive and effective national dialogue;

6. Urges the Venezuelan authorities to provide the conditions to ensure fair, free, inclusive and transparent elections in accordance with international standards; calls on the authorities to respect the decisions of Venezuelans when they choose their representatives;

7. Calls on the Venezuelan authorities to implement the recommendations of the EU election observation mission of 2021 in order to improve future electoral processes, in particular the recommendation calling for the abolition of the Comptroller General’s prerogative to strip citizens of their fundamental right to stand for election using an administrative procedure and without timely notification, which negatively impacts the right to a defence;

8. Calls on the Venezuelan authorities to extend an official invitation to international observers, including the EU, to observe the upcoming presidential elections, as established under the Barbados Agreement;

9. Is concerned about the possible use of the legal framework to restrict the defence of human rights and freedom of association, and is particularly concerned about the draft law on the control, regularisation, operations and financing of non-governmental and related Organisations;

10. Calls on the EEAS, the Member States and the EU Delegation to Venezuela to continue prioritising the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to provide logistical, financial and technological support to human rights defenders and civil society;

11. 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 President of Venezuela, the National Assembly of Venezuela and the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly.