PSOE, PP, Cs, Vox and PNV join forces to denounce "human rights violations" in Venezuela

The Spanish Congress of Deputies rejects the continued human rights violations perpetrated by the regime of Nicolás Maduro and has ratified its support for the National Assembly and the Constitutional Presidency led by Juan Guaidó.

This was the vote of the members of the PP, PSOE, Ciudadanos, Vox and PNV, who backed Proposition No of Law "in favour of the Venezuelans and the fight for freedom" in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the lower house. Unidas Podemos has been the only party at the state level that has dissociated itself from this joint position of Congress.

In this non-legislative proposal, the Spanish parliamentarians condemn human rights violations, urge the return of control of democratic political parties to their legitimate leaders; the election of a new National Electoral Council (NEC) to hold free, fair and verifiable presidential and parliamentary elections; the ratification of Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president; the release of political prisoners and the imposition of individual sanctions on the Maduro regime. With this approval, the Spanish Congress calls on the Government to lead the European Union's efforts to promote the restoration of democracy through free and transparent elections, both parliamentary and presidential.

Last week, the United Nations, through a report published by the 'Independent International Fact-Finding Mission of the United Nations on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela', "identified highly coordinated patterns of violations and crimes in accordance with the policies of the State and part of a widespread and systematic course of conduct, thus constituting crimes against humanity," the text quoted.

According to this report, both President Nicolás Maduro, and his Ministers of the Interior and Defence, Néstor Reverol and Vladimir Padrino respectively, as well as the former President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, were aware of these crimes and gave orders, coordinated activities and provided resources in support of the plans and policies under which the crimes were committed.

This Thursday, a diplomatic mission sent by the European Union (EU) travelled to Caracas to try to promote "minimum conditions" so that "democratic" legislative elections can be held, since the elections scheduled for December 6 could not be recognized. According to Efe, a Community spokesperson indicated the presence of the EU mission in Caracas "this week to maintain contacts with all parties, including the main political forces, civil society, academics, the private sector and the Church".

This is the latest attempt by Brussels to maintain dialogue and improve the situation in the Caribbean country, since the conditions under which the December elections were being held are not suitable for recognition by the international community, according to the Council of EU Foreign Ministers.

For his part, the president of the group in the European Parliament, Manfreb Weber, expressed his "extreme concern" over the sending of this mission to "talk to the Maduro regime" and described them as "clandestine", according to Efe.

"Legitimising the Maduro dictator and giving him a perspective of international normality in any way would be unacceptable," Weber said.
A few weeks ago, Juan Guido presented the 'Unitary Pact for Freedom and Free Elections' in which 37 of the 105 parties and civil society organisations participate. With this pact, Guaidó, the elected president of the National Assembly, intends to carry out the renewal of this body.

Among the Venezuelan opposition, the main dissent is whether or not to participate in the elections called by Maduro for early December. 
Part of the opposition, led by former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, has shown itself willing to take part in the call to the polls. For its part, Guaidó and its supporters have rejected this initiative, which they describe as a "fraudulent process".

During his address to the United Nations Assembly, Maduro blamed the crisis the Caribbean country is experiencing on the interference and sanctions implemented by the US president, Donald Trump. Hugo Chávez's successor took advantage of the UN microphone to claim to have managed the pandemic and avoided self-criticism, though he did acknowledge the mass migration of Venezuelans owing to the economic crisis.