Jordi Solé calls for a full democratic process in the Venezuelan Presidential Elections

EFA Group President, Jordi Solé EFA Group President intervened in plenary today, to express the need for the Parliament to send an anonymous message to the Venezuelan authorities, ahead of the presidential elections, taking place next year in the country.

“The presidential elections scheduled for next year have to be free, fair, inclusive and transparent. An electoral process that protects the right of participation in all political options under equal conditions must be guaranteed. In short, a fully democratic process.” He mentioned.

MEP Solé also warned against the prosecution of political leaders by the current government, preventing them to run in the election, as well as the lack of implementation of the recommendations made by the EU electoral observation mission of 2021.

“In this sense, the recent administrative disqualification of the opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado for 15 years is bad news. This is an arbitrary disqualification that other political figures of the opposition have also suffered in the past and are still disqualified today. “ He said

“It is also not positive that the recommendations of the 2021 EU election observation mission are not implemented, and we ask once again that all efforts be made that will lead to the full implementation of these proposals.” He added.

Jordi Solé exhorted political parties in Venezuela to resume dialogues to work towards the democratisation of the country. He also pointed out the role of the EU to support internal and international efforts to make progress in this line.

“Although the dialogue between the government and the opposition has not yielded results so far, and in fact has been frozen in recent months, we urge the parties to resume this dialogue in order to facilitate, among other things, the full democratisation of Venezuela. In this sense we call on the EU to support the internal, but also international, efforts that have taken place and may take place in the future.“ He said.

"We are at the doors of the EU-Celac summit, which should mean a boost for relations between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean. Everyone should be up to the task so that this agenda". He concluded.