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

B90104/2024

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

– having regard to the final report of the EU election observation mission to Venezuela for the regional and municipal elections of 21 November 2021,

– having regard to the Partial Agreement on the Promotion of Political Rights and Electoral Guarantees for All, most commonly known as the Barbados Agreement,

– 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 real democratic transition;

B. whereas on 30 June 2023, the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Venezuela announced that María Corina Machado had been disqualified from holding public office for 15 years;

C. whereas María Corina Machado was elected as the opposition candidate in the opposition primary election held in October 2023;

D. whereas on 26 January 2024, Venezuela’s Supreme Court disqualified opposition leaders from running for president and confirmed that María Corina Machado was disqualified from exercising public functions for a period of 15 years;

E. whereas last year, Nicolás Maduro’s government and the Plataforma Unitaria opposition alliance committed, under the Barbados Agreement, to holding a free and fair vote in 2024 and to allowing all parties to select their candidates to run in the presidential election;

F. whereas the country is experiencing continuous institutional, economic and political instability and systematic human rights violations;

G. whereas in October 2023, the Biden administration in the US eased sanctions on Venezuela’s oil, mining and gas sectors in response to the agreement reached between the government and the opposition for the 2024 elections; whereas the US administration has taken some steps to reimpose sanctions on Venezuela in response to the disqualification of opposition candidates;

1. Is deeply concerned by the continuous use of administrative sanctions and the judicial system to disqualify opposition candidates from the presidential election;

2. Calls on the Venezuelan authorities to respect the outcome of the presidential primary elections organised by the Plataforma Unitaria and held in October 2023;

3. Calls on the Venezuelan authorities to fully implement the Barbados Agreement, including promptly establishing an electoral calendar; calls on all the parties to remain at the negotiating table;

4. Urges the Venezuelan authorities to guarantee the conditions for fair, free, competitive, inclusive and transparent elections; calls on all the authorities to respect the decision of Venezuelans when they vote in the presidential elections;

5. Calls on the Venezuelan authorities to extend official invitations to international observers, including the European Union, to observe the future presidential elections, as established under the Barbados Agreement; calls on the EEAS to heed this call and ensure broad monitoring of and reporting on the conditions in which the elections are held;

6. Calls on the Venezuelan authorities to implement the recommendations of the EU election observation mission of 2021, 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;

7. 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 and financial support to human rights defenders and civil society;

8. 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 and the Venezuelan authorities.