María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Honored for Their Courageous Fight for Democracy in Venezuela
In a commendable recognition of their unwavering commitment to democracy, María Corina Machado and Edmundo González have been awarded for their courageous efforts to restore freedom and democratic governance in Venezuela. This accolade, supported by various center-right and right-wing factions, was announced by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, during a session in Strasbourg. The decision followed a meeting among the leaders of the political groups within the Parliament.
Metsola praised both Machado and González for their fearless advocacy, stating, “In their quest for a fair, free, and peaceful transition of power, they have upheld values that resonate deeply with millions of Venezuelans and the European Parliament, including justice, democracy, and the rule of law.”
She reaffirmed the European Parliament’s commitment to standing by the Venezuelan people and the two laureates in their vital struggle for a democratic future. Notably, Metsola referred to González as “President-elect,” a title recognized by a Parliament resolution passed in September. In contrast, the European Union does not recognize Nicolás Maduro nor González as the legitimate victor of the contentious elections held in July in Venezuela.
Who Are the Winners?
María Corina Machado has emerged as a prominent figure in Venezuela’s opposition landscape. She was elected as the presidential candidate for the Unity Democratic Platform in 2023 but faced disqualification from the National Electoral Council, which has been widely criticized.
Edmundo González, a seasoned diplomat, stepped in to replace Machado as the candidate for the Unity Democratic Platform, challenging Nicolás Maduro in the presidential elections conducted on July 28. Both Machado and González have vocally contested the Venezuelan government’s refusal to release the official election results and have challenged Maduro’s declared victory, a claim also scrutinized by a United Nations panel of experts.
Following an arrest warrant issued against him, González fled to Spain, where he was granted political asylum on September 7. Meanwhile, Machado has indicated that she remains in Venezuela, albeit in hiding to evade government surveillance.
The European Parliament has condemned the Venezuelan presidential election for its failure to meet international electoral standards and has denounced allegations of “electoral fraud” as well as “serious and systematic human rights violations” committed against the democratic opposition, the Venezuelan populace, and civil society.
The EU has urged Venezuelan authorities to uphold the rights of all citizens to peacefully assemble, to refrain from employing excessive force, to cease the repression of opposition voices and civil society, and to release all political prisoners. While the EU has imposed sanctions on several high-ranking Venezuelan officials, it has notably refrained from sanctioning Maduro himself.
Related
- Right-wing MEPs unite to recognize González as the legitimate president of Venezuela, undermining the established cordon sanitaire.
A Significant Recognition for Venezuelan Opposition
This award marks a notable instance of recognition for the Venezuelan opposition, with Machado and González being jointly nominated by the European Parliament’s largest faction, the center-right European People’s Party (EPP). The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) proposed González independently, while the right-wing Patriots for Europe also backed him after their candidate, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, was excluded from the shortlist.
Additionally, civil society organizations “Women Wage Peace” and “Women of the Sun,” representing Israel and Palestine respectively, were nominated by the S&D group. Academic and Azerbaijani anti-corruption advocate Gubad Ibadoghlu was put forward by the Greens/EFA group, rounding out the shortlisted candidates.
Machado and González succeed Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran, who were honored with the prize in 2023, and follow the recognition given to the political opponents of the Venezuelan government, including the National Assembly and all political prisoners, who received the award in 2017.
The award ceremony is set to take place on December 18 during the Parliament’s plenary session.