PRESS RELEASE: Situation in Venezuela

The ECR Party, following the example numerous governments we will not recognise the legitimacy of the new Venezuelan National Assembly due to the numerous discrepancies found in the conduct of the elections held on the 6th of December.

The elections went ahead with the exclusion of opposition political parties, as well as a wide spread boycott by the public. Official figures claim that just 31% of the public voted during the elections, however this is likely to be lower.

We also continue to recognise Juan Guaido as President of the National Assembly, and as interim constitutional President of Venezuela, as we have done since the beginning of this current crisis within the country.

We also urge HR/VP Josep Borrell to work with the democratic movement in Venezuela to ensure that fair democratic reforms are implemented within the country as originally promised.  

British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said: “It is vital that Venezuelans are given the opportunity to vote soon in presidential and legislative elections that are free, fair and effectively overseen. Restoring democracy is an essential step towards ending the political, economic and humanitarian crises afflicting Venezuela’s long-suffering people and calls on all its leaders to commit to supporting a solution to this end.”

ENDs.