Venezuela: repression and violence must be stopped immediately

EPP Group in the European Parliament calls for new sanctions against the Maduro government in Venezuela

“The UN recently confirmed that Nicolás Maduro is responsible for the persecution, torture and murders in Venezuela. This repression needs to be stopped immediately. We need additional sanctions targeting those who are responsible for violence. We call for free and fair presidential elections in order to restore democracy in the country”, said Leopoldo López Gil MEP, EPP Group Spokesman for human rights, ahead of the vote on the European Parliament’s Resolution denouncing the severe emergency situation in Venezuela.

More than 7 million people are in need of humanitarian aid due to Nicolas Maduro’s de facto government. More than 3.4 million Venezuelans have fled the country and nearly 7000 people have been killed during illegal security operations in the past year and a half.

“The legitimate National Assembly of Venezuela maintains that the crisis must be resolved through dialogue. The main and only aim of this dialogue must be the creation of the conditions leading to free, transparent and credible presidential elections”, López Gil continued.

"The European Parliament, starting its new parliamentary term, can only strongly condemn the systematic violations committed by the de facto Venezuelan authorities. We recommend extending the sanctions, we support the new efforts of dialogue and peace with a view to holding free and fair elections. We also offer our support to all refugees - now well beyond the 3 million mark - and the European communities that are suffering so much on Venezuelan territory”, concluded Paulo Rangel MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group.