The European Parliament adopted by 463 votes to 45 with 37 abstentions a resolution on the situation in Venezuela.

The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, and ECR groups. It condemned all acts of violence and the tragic loss of life during the peaceful demonstrations led by students on 12 February 2014 and subsequently, which have ended in deadly violence, with at least 13 deaths and more than 70 people being injured and hundreds detained. Noting that political tension and polarisation was increasing in Venezuela, and that the Venezuelan authorities, instead of contributing to the maintenance of peace and calm, had threatened to conduct an ‘armed revolution’, Parliament called on the representatives of all parties and sections of Venezuelan society to remain calm in both actions and words. Members wanted an ad hoc European Parliament delegation to be sent to assess the situation in Venezuela as soon as possible.

They note that the students’ demands related to the failure of President Maduro’s government to solve the problems of high inflation, crime and shortages of some staples, as well as to increasing levels of corruption and the intimidation of the media and the democratic opposition, whilst the government had blamed the shortages on ‘saboteurs’ and ‘profit-hungry corrupt businessmen’.

Parliament reminded the Venezuelan Government that freedom of expression and the right to participate in peaceful demonstrations are recognised in the Venezuelan Constitution, and that the latter had an obligation to ensure the security of all citizens in the country, regardless of their political views and affiliations. It called on the Venezuelan authorities to withdraw the unfounded accusations and arrest warrants against opposition leaders, and to dissolve the uncontrolled armed pro-government groups that had been acting with impunity in Venezuela for a long time, and had been accused by the opposition of inciting violence during the peaceful demonstrations, causing deaths and several injuries.

Members called on the Venezuelan Government for clarification regarding the deaths that have occurred so that the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.

Parliament regretted the existence of media and web censorship and the fact that access to some blogs and social networks was limited, condemning the harassment suffered by a number of newspapers and other audiovisual media outlets. It regarded these practices as contrary to the Venezuelan Constitution and the undertakings given by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.