Spain’s Sánchez to seek a unified EU approach to solve Venezuelan political crisis

Spain will not recognise Edmundo González Urrutia's claimed victory in Venezuela's recent election but will work towards a unified EU stance to negotiate with Nicolás Maduro’s regime for a resolution to the political crisis, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE/S&D) said on Wednesday (11 September).

At a press conference in Kunshan, China, where Sánchez was on an official trip until Wednesday, he explained that the Iberian country would seek a solution that can respond to the democratic will expressed at the ballot box in the 28 July elections, Euractiv's partner EFE reported. 

Sánchez explained that Spain will seek unity in the EU to allow “a margin for mediation until the end of the year” to find a way out of the political crisis in Venezuela, EFE reported.

In contrast, the head of government and PSOE leader rejected criticism from the opposition Spanish People's Party (Partido Popular/EPP), which reproached Sánchez for having taken a "problem" away from Maduro by granting asylum to González Urrutia.

PP Leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo harshly attacked Sánchez on Tuesday (10 September) for his refusal to recognise the opposition politician as the legitimate winner of the elections in the South American country. 

Despite calls from EU Diplomacy Chief Josep Borrell, human rights organisations, and various governments for Maduro’s regime to publish the electoral minutes certifying his self-proclaimed victory, Caracas has yet to comply. This delay has contributed to fuelling suspicions of electoral fraud.     

For his part, Sánchez rejected PP’s harsh words on Wednesday while recalling that Spain does not recognise either González's or Maduro's victory and is waiting, like other EU member states, for Caracas to show the electoral records as proof.     

He echoed Josep Borell's stance, calling for Caracas to clarify the situation. 

“If Maduro insists on saying he has won and does not want to understand that, for the international community, without verification, there is no assumption of results, Venezuela could enter a serious crisis – we are all trying to prevent this from happening,” said Borrell on the sidelines of a summer course in Santander after the Venezuelan elections.

The Spanish PM also pointed out that Madrid has welcomed González Urrutia as a matter of humanity. Criticising the PP, he said the right-wing party’s stance leaves the conservative formation “naked in its incongruence,” EFE reported.

Similarly, he questioned how the PP and the far-right VOX party, the third force in parliament, would have reacted if Spain had refused to take in González Urrutia. 

“Asylum is a gesture of humanity, of humanitarian commitment by Spanish society and the government to a person who unfortunately suffers persecution and repression,” the PM stated.   

[Edited by Martina Monti]