The European Union has declared that it does not recognize the “democratic legitimacy” of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, following his re-election last month. This statement was made by Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, during a press conference in Brussels after a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers. Borrell emphasized that while Maduro would continue as the de facto president of Venezuela, the EU would deny his democratic legitimacy due to the unverifiable nature of the election results.
“We believe that the electoral victory he’s claiming was not endorsed, it’s not approved. And therefore we have no reason to believe it,” Borrell stated. Despite this stance, the EU will continue to maintain diplomatic relations with Venezuela, similar to how it engages with other countries where it does not recognize the democratic legitimacy of their leaders, such as Nicaragua. “In diplomacy, it’s not governments, but it’s states that are recognised,” Borrell added.
Maduro was declared the winner of the election held on July 28. However, the opposition, which had been leading in pre-election polls, disputed the results, citing evidence they published on a website that appeared to show a clear victory for their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Urrutia, a retired diplomat in his seventies, became a candidate at the last moment after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was barred from running. The Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) has not released its official election records, claiming that the data had been compromised by hackers.
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Maduro’s government has called for the arrest of Gonzalez Urrutia, who has not been seen publicly since an opposition march on July 30. During the EU meeting, Gonzalez Urrutia provided a briefing to the EU foreign ministers via video link, updating them on the situation in Venezuela.
In response to these developments, Borrell affirmed that the EU would continue to maintain close contact with and support Venezuela’s opposition. He also highlighted the EU’s commitment to backing dialogue and efforts by regional partners, particularly Brazil and Colombia, to mediate the political crisis. Borrell underscored the importance of a democratic transition, stating, “For me, a dialogue that initiates a democratic transition provides a guarantee to both sides, and it leads to the restoration of democracy.”
The EU’s stance reflects its ongoing concern about the political situation in Venezuela and the need for a credible democratic process. This position also aligns with broader international calls for transparency and fairness in Venezuela’s electoral processes.
