In a significant development, the Spanish Congress has voted to recognize Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate president of Venezuela, passing a non-binding resolution with 177 votes in favor and 164 against. This symbolic gesture, proposed by the conservative People’s Party (PP), was supported by right-wing and nationalist groups, including the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV).The resolution calls for an end to repression in Venezuela, the release of political prisoners, and protection for opposition leaders such as María Corina Machado and González Urrutia himself. It also urges the reinstatement of sanctions against Venezuelan regime leaders and supports the Carter Center’s conclusions on the Venezuelan elections.However, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s socialist government maintains that it will not officially recognize González Urrutia as president-elect. Instead, Sánchez has committed to working towards a negotiated solution within the European Union framework, emphasizing the need for Venezuela to publish disaggregated election results for independent verification.González Urrutia, who arrived in Spain on September 8 to receive political asylum, has not appeared publicly due to restrictions on making statements. Through his daughter, he called for the international community to redouble its commitment to democracy in Venezuela and pledged to fight ‘until the end’.The opposition in Venezuela, led by María Corina Machado, has welcomed the Spanish Congress’s decision. Machado stated, ‘Today we have obtained another great victory. We advance! The Venezuelans thank each of the deputies from the different parties who voted in favor of popular sovereignty, democracy, truth, and freedom in Venezuela’.This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing Venezuelan political crisis, with international recognition becoming an increasingly contentious issue. The deadline for negotiating a solution to the crisis ends at the end of the year, as González Urrutia is set to take office on January 10, 2025, if recognized as the legitimate president.
Key points
- Spanish Congress voted 177-164 to recognize Edmundo González Urrutia as legitimate Venezuelan president.
- Spanish government, led by PM Pedro Sánchez, refuses to officially recognize González Urrutia, seeking EU-mediated solution.
- González Urrutia, granted political asylum in Spain, calls for international support for Venezuelan democracy.
- Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado welcomes Spanish Congress’s decision.
Contradictions👾While the Spanish Congress has voted to recognize González Urrutia, the Spanish government maintains its position of not officially recognizing him as president-elect.
👾The resolution calls for reinstating sanctions against Venezuelan regime leaders, while the government seeks a negotiated solution.
