The negotiation will remain open until Thursday noon, when the register of amendments and negotiated texts of the European Parliament closes. But the Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament refuses to recognise Edmundo Gonzalez as the “president-elect” of Venezuela. Not even as the winner of the July 28 presidential elections.
A week ago, this newspaper reported that the European Parliament would debate this motion for a resolution, at the initiative of the European People’s Party. Under the impetus of the Spanish delegation within the EPP, the majority group in the European Parliament is already had questioned the main representatives of the rest of the House. At that time, They were sure they had the votes necessary.
The vice-president of the socialists for foreign affairs, the Greek Yannis Maniatishad been clear: “The hope of having transparent and democratic elections quickly faded when it became clear that Maduro had done everything possible to be re-elected, even though Real numbers indicate that opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia won the elections“.
The situation of five years ago was about to happen again, when it was the European Parliament that marked the path of the Twenty-Seven, including the government of Pedro Sanchez in Spain, to recognize Juan Guaido as “interim president” of the Caribbean country.
S&D, with the Council
However, as the days went by, the situation changed. After the PP managed to win a similar vote in Congress last week, the Spanish socialist delegation in the European Parliament managed to impose its criteria. “The position of the socialists and democrats in Europe is what it has always been, which is that of the Council” explains an official source.
The truth is that the Foreign Affairs Council, at the end of August, decided not to recognize the legitimacy of Maduro’s self-proclaimed victory, nor that of Edmundo González.
Despite the fact that the official records collected by the democratic opposition, with 83% of the tables, certify 65% of the votes for the unitary candidacy led by Maria Corina Machado (veto of the regime), against 30% of the party in power, there was no unanimity among the ministers gathered by Joseph Borrell.
The High Representative in any case issued a statement ten days ago in which he went further, warning that these data indicate that González Urrutia “would have won the elections”. And his spokesman in Brussels admitted that the former Spanish foreign minister was also seeking a more advanced common position of the Twenty-Seven.
But the text of the socialists in the European Parliament, to which this newspaper has had access, does not go that far. The S&D resolution proposal condemns arrest warrant against opposition candidateand welcomes Spain’s granting of political asylum to González Urrutia. Also demands the release of “political prisoners” and the exhibition of official documents.
“If the Council asks for it, it means EU does not believe in Maduro’s legitimacy as the winner of elections that were not democratic,” adds the aforementioned source. And this explains why even the European socialists, who refer to the resolution of the foreign ministers, Even the governments of the member states will not recognise González Urrutia: as long as the request is to consult the minutes, the EU will remain anchored in this position.
In search of division
It remains to be seen what will finally be voted on this Thursday in the European Parliament, where the EPP is trying to build majorities and fuel the division of the socialist bloc. “If they say that Spain is leading the EU, What they should say is that he’s holding her back.“, says a PP source in the EU.
It is not for nothing that the number two in foreign policy for the socialists, the Greek Maniatis, had already made his position clear in advance. “It is time for the EU to strengthen its role and increase sanctions against the regimeincluding senior officials, members of the security forces and the regime’s Supreme Court of Justice, and Maduro himself“.
This is what motivates the popular Spaniards to seek votes in the S&D fishing ground.
But the official text, defended by its leader, the Spaniard Iratxe GarciaIt supports research in the International Criminal Court “on the numerous crimes and acts of repression” of the Venezuelan government” and urges the Union to “continue to support investigations into alleged crimes against humanity”. Finally, it calls on, “in due course” renew sanctions against the regime, including against Nicolas Maduro himself, “if deemed appropriate”.
