MEP Francisco Assis was one of the five Socialists who voted against his group in the European Parliament this Thursday to introduce a PPE resolution to recognize Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the legitimate president of Venezuela. He also explains that he does not hesitate because they are more than a political issue, “It is a Moral question“.
He was one of five Socialist MEPs to vote in favor of the plan, which was also negotiated with the European Socialists. In the end, the S&D voted against, but Assis disagreed with this position, along with Isilda Gómez, Sergio Gonçalves, André Rodríguez and Carla Tavares. The split also occurred within the Portuguese Socialists, with Marta Demido, Ana Caterina Mendes and Bruno Gonçalves voting in favor.
Assis envisioned “the European Parliament, which has the Sakharov Prize [para a Liberdade de Pensamento] The struggle for independence must have this position regarding Venezuela. “Gonzalez won without a doubt Very wide margin“, he adds, is what led him to make this decision and influenced his visit to Venezuelan refugee camps in 2018.
“Because of my knowledge of the situation and out of respect for the millions of people who have been persecuted Autocratic ruleI had a moral obligation to vote in favor,” he told the Observer. “I have no major doubts. It is the imperative of conscience. It is a moral issue before a political issue.
PS MEPs are divided over Venezuela
The joint resolution was adopted by 309 votes in favor, 201 votes against and 12 abstentions and urges EU countries to make every effort to ensure that Edmundo Gonzalez takes office on January 10, 2025.
Accepting the request of the European People’s Party (EPP), the resolution calls for the arrest of Nicolás Maduro for “crimes against humanity and all serious human rights violations”.
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