Following the presidential elections held yesterday in Venezuela, S&D MEP Ramón Jáuregui, who co-chairs the EU-Latin America Parliamentary Assembly (Eurolat), said:

 

“Unfortunately, the elections in Venezuela did not bring any  hope to the Venezuelan people. President Maduro has been re-elected with a very low turnout (below 50%), amid reports of irregularities and in the absence of the main opposition political leaders and parties.

 

“The international community in general, and the EU in particular, as well as the majority of countries in Latin America, Canada and the US, did not legitimate these elections due to the lack of political agreement between the government and the opposition on the calling of the elections. We are reaffirmed in our decision by the outcome. And now, new elements are added: reports of irregularities by both candidates on election day, and the high abstention due to the boycott of the opposition.

 

“Under these circumstances, we believe it necessary to insist on what the S&Ds have already been calling for for years: only an agreement between the Government and all the opposition can redress this crisis. On behalf of all Socialists and Democrats in Europe, we ask for foresight and generosity to the Venezuelan government and the opposition parties to reach electoral agreements that can allow for the rebuilding of the Venezuelan democracy, and for the redirecting of the economic and humanitarian crisis that the Venezuelan people are living and suffering.”