Committee on Development

On Monday, 16 December, the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Development and the Subcommittee on Human Rights held a joint exchange of views with the 2024 Sakharov Prize laureates María Corina Machado, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, representing all Venezuelans inside and outside the country fighting to restore freedom and democracy.

In 2023, Ms Machado was selected as the opposition's candidate for the 2024 presidential election but was later disqualified by Maduro's regime. Mr González Urrutia, a diplomat and politician who succeeded her as the opposition's candidate, contested Mr Maduro's fraudulent victory. Mr González Urrutia left the country in September after a warrant was issued to arrest him. Facing persecution, Ms Machado went into hiding.

The next DEVE meeting will take place on Tuesday 28 January 2025 from 9.30 to 12.30 and from 14.30 to 18.30