P9_TA(2023)0288 – The political disqualifications in Venezuela – European Parliament resolution of 13 July 2023 on the political disqualifications in Venezuela (2023/2780(RSP))
Date: 2023-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Venezuela, candidate, democracy, election, human rights, political prisoner, right to stand for election, rule of law








C_202404008EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2024/4008


17.7.2024






P9_TA(2023)0288

The political disqualifications in Venezuela


European Parliament resolution of 13 July 2023 on the political disqualifications in Venezuela (2023/2780(RSP))

(C/2024/4008)



The European Parliament,







—


having regard to its previous resolutions on Venezuela,










—


having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,










A.


whereas Venezuela’s 2024 elections could be a turning point towards a return to democracy; whereas the country is experiencing institutional, economic and political instability; whereas over seven million people have been forced to leave the country;










B.


whereas public information, freedom of opinion and expression and the right to assembly have been systematically restricted;










C.


whereas three principal rectors of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) have resigned, forcing the two remaining ones to resign, and the illegitimate National Assembly has appointed representatives of the regime to select the new rectors;










D.


whereas the arbitrary and politically fabricated disqualifications of candidates, like the 15-year disqualification of María Corina Machado and those of other prominent political figures such as Leopoldo López, Henrique Capriles and Freddy Superlano, go against the recommendations of the EU election observation mission (EOM) and severely restrict Venezuelans’ rights to choose their representatives;










E.


whereas this is yet another move by the regime, through the CNE, to hamper the electoral process and quash any prospect of a return to democracy;










F.


whereas the Organization of American States, UN bodies, the USA, the main leaders in the region and the EU VP/HR have made statements condemning this;













1.


Strongly condemns the arbitrary and unconstitutional decision to prevent María Corina Machado, Leopoldo López, Henrique Capriles and Freddy Superlano, among other candidates, from running for election, and the Maduro regime’s interference in the electoral process;












2.


Calls for an independent nomination procedure for CNE appointments;












3.


Recognises the efforts of the opposition to the regime to organise primary elections as a democratic solution for Venezuelans domestically and abroad; urges the Venezuelan authorities to provide the conditions to ensure fair, free, inclusive and transparent elections;












4.


Calls for the EU to support a return to democracy in Venezuela and to press the Venezuelan regime to release all political prisoners;












5.


Deplores the fact that the recommendations of the EU EOM are being ignored and encourages all efforts towards their full implementation;












6.


Fully supports the International Criminal Court investigations into the Venezuelan regime’s extensive crimes and acts of repression and calls for the EU to support the investigations into the alleged crimes against humanity, to hold those responsible to account;












7.


Stresses that the upcoming EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit represents an opportunity to uphold the principles of the rule of law, democracy and human rights, and calls on all participants to abide by these principles; calls on those participating in the summit to issue a statement demanding full respect for human rights, democracy and fundamental freedoms;












8.


Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit participants, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, the Organization of American States, the UN Secretary-General and the Venezuelan authorities.






ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4008/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)