Patriots for Europe Regrets EPP's Weak Stance on Venezuela, Reaffirms Commitment to Defend Democracy
Brussels 23/01/2025 - Patriots for Europe strongly regrets the European People’s Party (EPP) for softening its stance on Venezuela’s dictatorship and abandoning the people of Venezuela in their fight for democracy and freedom.
On January 10, 2025, Nicolás Maduro was illegitimately sworn in as president of Venezuela. This act blatantly disregards the results of the presidential elections held on July 28, 2024, in which Edmundo González Urrutia was the clear and legitimate winner. Edmundo González should have been inaugurated on January 10, as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.
On September 19, 2024, the European Parliament, supported by Patriots for Europe, approved a landmark resolution recognizing Edmundo González as Venezuela's legitimate president. This resolution urged the EU and its Member States to stand firm and formally recognize González, providing a ray of hope for the Venezuelan people.
However, during this plenary session, the EPP has chosen to align itself with socialists and left-wing parties instead of standing with Patriots for Europe in defending Venezuela's democracy. The final text of the resolution is a watered-down version that fails to include critical elements, such as the explicit recognition of Edmundo González as the legitimate president of Venezuela; it does not urges to the EU and all its Member States to recognise Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate and democratically elected president of Venezuela; and it also omits any reference to Venezuela's allied authoritarian regimes, including Cuba, Nicaragua, China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. All these positions are based on principles strongly defended by Patriots.
This outcome represents a significant step backward from the victory achieved in September 2024. By establishing a so-called “cordon sanitaire” against Patriots and prioritizing alliances with leftist forces, the EPP has abandoned its duty to uphold democracy and freedom in Venezuela.
Patriots for Europe remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the Venezuelan people in their struggle for democracy and liberty. We will continue to fight for the recognition of Edmundo González as Venezuela’s legitimate president and call on the EU and its Member States to uphold their principles in the face of authoritarian regimes.
Democracy and freedom are non-negotiable values. The Venezuelan people deserve no less.