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

TA-9-2024-0080 · P9_TA(2024)0080 · PE756.839

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Parliament's resolution condemns attempts to bar opposition presidential candidate María Corina Machado and others from public office in Venezuela, and the arrests and warrants against her team, opposition figures, human rights defenders and journalists. It calls for the release of arbitrarily arrested political and social leaders, including Juan Freites, Luis Camacaro and Guillermo Lopez, and says the Supreme Tribunal of Justice decision has no legal grounds and Machado remains eligible to run. It urges Venezuela to stop persecution, implement the Barbados Agreement and hold free, fair, inclusive elections, and asks the EU to keep and step up sanctions, support international investigations and not send an electoral observation mission until conditions are met.

Key points

  1. Condemns attempts to disqualify opposition presidential candidate María Corina Machado and Henrique Capriles from holding public office, noting she was not given the allegations or a chance to respond.
  2. Condemns attacks, alleged forced disappearances, arrests and arrest warrants against Machado's team, other opposition and civil society representatives, human rights defenders and journalists, and the regime's interference in the electoral process.
  3. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily arrested political and social leaders, including campaign staffers Juan Freites, Luis Camacaro and Guillermo Lopez.
  4. Says actions by Nicolás Maduro and his representatives breach the Barbados agreements, and that the Supreme Tribunal of Justice statement is unconstitutional and illegal, so Machado remains eligible to run.
  5. Calls the actions dictatorial political persecution violating civil and political rights, and recognises the opposition's efforts to organise primary elections.
  6. Urges Venezuela to stop persecuting Machado and other opposition politicians, implement the Barbados Agreement and ensure she can take part in a competitive presidential election in 2024.
  7. Condemns repression, torture and rights violations, urges Venezuela to revoke arrest warrants for political opponents and free political prisoners, and criticises the draft law on NGO control and financing.
  8. Stresses the need to update the permanent electoral registry and the electoral registry abroad so all Venezuelans at home and abroad can vote, and condemns interference in appointing National Electoral Council members.
  9. Supports International Criminal Court and UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission investigations and calls for EU support for investigations into alleged crimes against humanity.
  10. Calls for the EU to work with the international community and peaceful democratic stakeholders in Venezuela to encourage a return to the Barbados Agreement principles.
  11. Urges member states to maintain sanctions on the Maduro regime, step them up until democratic standards are upheld, and impose further targeted sanctions on Supreme Court judges and security force members involved in abuses.
  12. Calls on the European External Action Service, the EU Delegation, member states and the international community to keep monitoring Venezuela, and says the EU must not send an electoral observation mission until conditions are met and that elections will not be recognised otherwise.

Who is affected

  • Venezuelan opposition figures and civil society, including María Corina Machado and Henrique Capriles, targeted by disqualifications and persecution.
  • Arrested political and social leaders, including Juan Freites, Luis Camacaro and Guillermo Lopez, whom Parliament wants released.
  • Human rights defenders and journalists facing arrest warrants and repression.
  • EU member states, asked to maintain and step up sanctions on the Maduro regime.
  • The EU and its institutions, asked to monitor Venezuela, support investigations and withhold an electoral observation mission.

Figures and deadlines

  • 92,35 % of the votes, with which María Corina Machado won the opposition primary elections on 22 October 2023.
  • around eight million people forced to leave Venezuela.
  • fourteen arrest warrants issued on 22 January against individuals including Tamara Sujú, Sebastiana Barráez, Antonio Ledezma, Leopoldo López, Juan Guaidó and David Smolansky.
  • 15-year disqualification of María Corina Machado and other political figures, condemned in Parliament's resolution of 13 July 2023.