“Venezuela is counting on you, because the fight for freedom and democracy in our country is also the fight for these values throughout the world. » This Tuesday, Venezuelan opponent Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received the Sakharov Prize at the European Parliament. This prize, the highest in the European Union for human rights, “symbolizes the unity between the world's democrats, who today more than ever need each other,” he said before the hemycycle in Strasbourg, concluding his speech with “Long live free Venezuela!” », to applause.
A contested re-election
The re-election of Nicolas Maduro (United Socialist Party of Venezuela, PSUV) on July 28, for a third six-year term, was strongly contested by the opposition, which estimates that its candidate won with more than 67% of the votes. votes.
The Sakharov Prize was awarded at the end of October to Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, whom the European Parliament recognizes as the democratically elected president of Venezuela, as well as to Maria Corina Machado, the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, who has been living in hiding since the election , and who was represented in Strasbourg by her daughter. The Maltese President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola praised their “tireless efforts to restore freedom and democracy to Venezuela and ensure a fair, free and peaceful transition of power”.
“A tribute to all Venezuelans who decided to be free”
She also condemned the Maduro regime for “the numerous brutal and cruel attempts to silence the democratic voices of millions of Venezuelans”, “issuing an arrest warrant against the president-elect”, and “the illegal imprisonment of thousands of political prisoners in inhumane conditions.”
“This award is a tribute to all Venezuelans who have decided to be free,” said Maria Corina Machado by videoconference, citing in particular “those who are today hidden, exiled, in prison.” And added: “You show us today that we are not alone and that never, never will the fight for freedom be in vain. Now is the time to act decisively. We need parliaments and governments at this decisive moment”
The United States, Europe and many Latin American countries do not recognize the re-election of Nicolas Maduro. While his swearing-in for the 2025-2031 term is scheduled for January 10, he called on his supporters “to take to the streets by the millions to swear an oath to Venezuela, to independence, to the Bolivarian homeland.”
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia returns to the country on January 10
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, 75, exiled in Spain, for his part announced that he would return to Venezuela on January 10 to “take up his duties”. On Monday, he said he hoped for the “start of a new era” upon his return to the country. “We look forward to January 10, the date our elected president takes power,” said Ana Corina Sosa, daughter of Maria Corina Machado. She assured that her mother, who has lived in hiding since the election, “will be by his side when he does.” “Whatever the government throws at us, we will be resilient. We will move forward and make our voice heard on January 10,” added Ana Corina Sosa.
Endowed with 50,000 euros, the Sakharov Prize is named after the Soviet dissident and nuclear physicist Andreï Sakharov, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1975. Several winners of this prize have also received the Nobel Peace Prize, such as the Pakistani Malala Yousafzaï or Nelson Mandela. In addition to the Sakharov Prize, Maria Corina Machado, 57, received the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize from the Council of Europe in September.
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