EPP Group will send an accompanying electoral delegation to Presidential elections in Venezuela

The Presidency of the EPP Group has agreed to send an accompanying electoral delegation to the key presidential elections taking place in Venezuela next Sunday 28 July, answering an invitation of the leader of the opposition, Maria Corina Machado, and opposition candidate for the Presidency, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, on behalf of the National Campaign Command With VZLA (Comando Nacional de Campaña Con VZLA).

The Presidency decided that the mission will be composed by the Spanish MEPs, Esteban González Pons, who is also Vice-President of the EPP Party, and Gabriel Mato, as well as the Portuguese MEP, Sebastião Bugalho. They plan to travel to Venezuela on Friday 26 July and return after the elections.

María Corina Machado, who won the primary elections with an overwhelming majority among the candidates opposing the regime and was disqualified for administrative reasons, insists in her letter of invitation on the utmost importance of the presence of an EPP Group delegation taking into account the historical challenge that these elections represent for the democracy in Latin America.

“We believe that it is important that the allies of the democratic cause in Venezuela can accompany us and be witness of this event. Their voices do not only represent a reaffirmation of their support and solidarity but also the opportunity to express to the world what will happen during the process," the letter reads.

The call for EPP and other international delegates to Venezuela's elections follows President Maduro's decision to withdraw the EU's invitation to send an official election observation mission to the country.