A deal with Maduro is like a deal with Lukashenko

“The High Representative of the EU Josep Borrell cannot send a secret mission to a dictator without consultation”, declared MEPs Antonio Tajani, Paulo Rangel and Dolors Montserrat. They request full clarity from Borrell about the EU high-level mission sent to Venezuela on 24 to 28 September with the aim of negotiating a possible delay of the legislative elections scheduled for 6 December 2020 with Nicolás Maduro.

“Such a mission only legitimises Maduro, not recognised by the EU as Venezuela’s leader, and the elections organised by his regime. Just postponing the elections without any conditions undermines at the same the EU's other political demands in Venezuela", stressed Tajani, former President of the European Parliament.

The EPP Group calls for an adequate electoral framework, the release of all political prisoners, an end to the harassment and repression of democratic parties and leaders, the authorisation of all political candidates and parties, the return of those forced into exile and an impartial composition of a National Electoral Council in Venezuela.

Paulo Rangel, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group, further criticised that the mission has not been discussed with nor endorsed by the leaders of the democratic forces, including by the legitimate interim President of the country Juan Guaidó. “Imagine sending an EU mission to talk to Lukashenko behind the back of the Belarusian opposition! That is what Josep Borrell did in Venezuela”, Rangel said.

“Sending such a mission is a strategic and political mistake which weakens the EU’s position with regard to the Venezuelan regime and whitewashes Maduro's totalitarian regime. We demand full clarity on why such a mission was sent”, concluded Montserrat, member of the EPP Group bureau and Head of the Spanish Delegation.