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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2024/2549(RSP))

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

B-9-2024-0111

on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Anna Fotyga, Angel Dzhambazki, Hermann Tertsch, Adam Bielan, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Witold Jan Waszczykowski, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Dominik Tarczyński, Andżelika Anna Możdżanowska

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This is a motion for a resolution on repression against democratic forces in Venezuela and attacks on presidential candidate María Corina Machado. Parliament calls for the lifting of her 15-year disqualification and the release of arbitrarily arrested political and social leaders. It calls for full implementation of the Barbados Agreement so that presidential elections in the second half of 2024 are free and transparent, and for an independent procedure to appoint the National Electoral Council. It condemns interference in the CNE, the Bolivarian Fury plan, killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture, and Venezuela's alignment with Russia, Cuba and Nicaragua. It asks member states, the VP/HR, the United States and international human rights organisations to monitor repression, and member states and the VP/HR to impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations. It supports International Criminal Court investigations into alleged crimes against humanity and calls for EU support for them.

Key points

  1. Calls for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the 15-year disqualification of María Corina Machado and all other political opposition figures so they can stand in elections.
  2. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily arrested political and social leaders, including Juan Guaidó and three campaign staffers of María Corina Machado.
  3. Calls for respect and full implementation of the Barbados Agreement as a first step to free and transparent presidential elections in the second half of 2024.
  4. Strongly condemns interference in the designation of National Electoral Council members and calls for an independent nomination procedure for new appointments.
  5. Expresses deepest concern about the potential negative effects of the Bolivarian Fury plan on civil liberties and the possibility of free and fair elections.
  6. Stresses the need to implement the 23 recommendations of the last EU election observation mission, including abolishing the comptroller general's power to strip political rights and ensuring voting system integrity, and demands approval of an EU EOM for the coming presidential elections.
  7. Condemns in the strongest terms killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and other criminal actions against opponents of the Maduro regime, including politicians, journalists and human rights defenders.
  8. Deplores continuous repression against political opposition figures and civil society, reiterates firm and unconditional support for the Venezuelan people, and deplores Venezuela's alignment with Russia, Cuba, Nicaragua and other dictatorial regimes.
  9. Calls on member states, the VP/HR, the United States and international human rights organisations to closely monitor repressive actions against the political opposition and civil society in Venezuela.
  10. Calls on member states and the VP/HR to impose necessary sanctions against individuals from the Venezuelan regime and its proxies responsible for human rights violations.
  11. Fully supports ICC investigations into the Venezuelan regime's crimes and acts of repression and calls for EU support for investigations into alleged crimes against humanity.

Who is affected

  • María Corina Machado and other opposition figures: calls for lifting their disqualifications so they can stand in elections.
  • Arbitrarily arrested political and social leaders, including Juan Guaidó and three campaign staffers: calls for their release.
  • Venezuelan regime and its proxies: calls for sanctions over human rights violations.
  • Member states, the VP/HR, the United States and international human rights organisations: asked to monitor repression.
  • Venezuelan authorities: asked to approve an EU election observation mission and implement EU EOM recommendations.

Figures and deadlines

  • 15-year disqualification of María Corina Machado, imposed previously and maintained by the TSJ on 26 January 2024.
  • 17 October 2023, date the Venezuelan regime reached the Barbados Agreement with the political opposition.
  • Elections to be held during the second half of 2024 under the Barbados Agreement.
  • More than 15 800 people subjected to politically motivated arrests since 2014, with around 270 remaining in detention, according to Foro Penal.
  • 21 % of polling stations across the country where armed groups were reported during the 2018 presidential elections.
  • 261 violations of freedom of expression in 2023 reported by Espacio Público.
  • 23 recommendations made by the last EU election observation mission.