MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the political disqualifications in Venezuela

11.7.2023 - (2023/2780(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Manu Pineda
on behalf of The Left Group

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0330/2023

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the political disqualifications in Venezuela

(2023/2780(RSP))

The European Parliament,

− having regards its article 144

A. Whereas resolutions on internal affairs of Latin-American and Caribbean countries just before the EU-CELAC Summit could tarnish relationships between EU and these countries and jeopardise the successful development of this important mechanism for bi-regional relationships, which have been suspended for seven years;

B. whereas since 2015 Venezuela is facing a difficult situation fuelled by external powers’ interferences; whereas after 2021’s elections a negotiation process was launched in Mexico between the government and the Unitary Platform of the opposition; whereas in April 2023 an international conference on Venezuela was organised in Bogota by Colombia’s President Petro, to reactivate the process and prepare the 2024’s elections, with the participation of 20 countries and the HR/VP;

C. whereas corruption remains a major issue in Venezuela and the government has made the fight against corruption a priority; whereas this was notably reflected by resignation on March 2023 of Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami, considered a key man in the government; that in April 2023 more than hundred people linked to the public oil company PDVSA and other public enterprises were arrested for embezzlement of public funds; 

D. whereas the public accounts monitoring body reiterated on 30 of June 2023 the ban on the opponent María Corina Machado from exercising any public function for 15 years from July 2015 due to errors and omissions in the sworn statement of assets, as well as the handling of funds administered without justification; whereas this conviction follows a number of offences since 2014, including violation of art. 191 of the Constitution, misappropriation of public funds and food aid for her own purposes, participation in a seditious enterprise led by Juan Guaido and public calls for the intervention of foreign armed forces;

1. Highlights the important need of efforts from the democratic forces, the Government, the democratic opposition and the Venezuelan people to find answers to their political and economic challenges; welcomes the conference in Bogota as a positive step to restore dialogue in the country;

2. Calls on the EU to maintain its exchanges with the Venezuelan authorities and society  in order to contribute to this dialogue; calls to increase the humanitarian aid as around 20 million people still in need assistance;

3. Stresses that the Venezuelan society must be formed on the will of the people,

4. Recalls that common challenges like the fight against corruption, energy crisis or the achievement of SDG’s can only be faced by international cooperation and institutional recognition;

5.  Stresses that according to OHCHR these sanctions inflict very serious harm to human life and are denying people’s fundamental human rights; stresses that tens of thousands of people died since 2017 as consequences of the sanctions imposed, which have limited the access of Venezuela to the international food and medicine markets and access to adequate healthcare notably during the Covid-19 pandemic;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution.