European Parliament condemns authoritarian practices of Venezuelan Government

The European Parliament today adopted a Resolution which goes firmly against the authoritarian practices of the Venezuelan Government. MEPs condemn the persecution of political opponents, the violation of freedom of expression and censorship of the media. They deplore the lack of judicial impartiality and guarantees and the imprisonment of peaceful protesters, students and opposition leaders.

"The Venezuelan Government is harassing opposition leaders by silencing them in jail. Freedom of expression is punished by the regime. Venezuela is in a very dangerous situation. Leopoldo López, one of the significant opposition leaders, is now sitting in jail in solitary confinement. But he is not the only one. Following the February protests this year, there are 60 more people like him, including students, and thousands are facing pre-trials. Therefore I am glad that the Resolution on Venezuela which highlights breaches of human rights in this country has received such large support from the European Parliament. Free Leopoldo López and all the others like him", said EPP Group MEP Jaromír Štětina, initiator and co-negotiator of the Resolution.

EPP Group Members called on the Venezuelan authorities to allow the EU delegation in Venezuela to be given the possibility to visit Leopoldo López in jail and keep in regular contact with his wife.

EPP Group co-negotiator Luis de Grandes MEP stressed that the Resolution adopted today with the consensus of four major political Groups in the Parliament sends a very clear message against the violation of human rights in Venezuela. According to him, the continuing infringement of fundamental rights in Venezuela strips President Maduro of any political credibility. De Grandes wonders if the Venezuelan President believes that he has the legitimacy to criticise democratically-elected Presidents of other countries and even accuse them of being murderers or architects of a coup d'état, when the majority of the European Parliament is questioning if the essential democratic guarantees are being respected in Venezuela.