The European Union will not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela. A month after the July 28 elections, authorities have not confirmed a victory, and because there are no official tallies or verification, the EU is unable to accept Maduro as the elected president. During an informal EU foreign ministers’ meeting, Josep Borrell announced this position after inviting distant opposition candidate Edmundo González to discuss the country’s situation.
“We have requested the tallies, but a month later there is no sign Maduro will present them. It is too late. Our conclusion is to defend democratic processes, to maintain engagement with the opposition, and since there are no tallies or verification and we fear they may never appear, we cannot accept Maduro’s legitimacy as president-elect”, a Spanish official stated in a press briefing. The Council decided that Maduro lacks legitimacy. He may remain president de facto, but without democratic legitimacy, because the regime has not proven victory and, without evidence, there is no reason to believe it.”
Borrell used the press conference to call for an end to repression and insist on respect for the dignity and rights of the opposition, journalists, and civil society. He acknowledged that diplomatic relations would continue, as they do with other governments that do not recognize Venezuela, similar to the approach taken with Nicaragua. Spain’s push to impose new sanctions on the Maduro regime did not gain traction; there was discussion, but there was not appetite to move forward at this time.
Sin acuerdo sobre sanciones
“The reality is that 55 Venezuelan political figures are sanctioned, including the vice president who is now a minister of oil and the interior minister (Diosdado Cabello). We are near the top of the list. Maduro is not on it, Jorge Rodríguez is not on it, and only a few others are not sanctioned. Additional sanctions would target the top political leaders”, Borrell explained, noting that EU member states are weighing how events unfold after today’s protests and how the government might pursue any negotiations.
According to sources from the foreign ministry, there is a strong concern about the deteriorating political climate and the lack of democratic transparency. The government aims to protect the physical integrity and civil and political rights of opposition members and to intensify dialogue with regional actors, especially Brazil and Colombia.
Sanciones against Israeli officials
The informal gathering also served to review the situation in Ukraine with foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba and to discuss the Middle East. The EU called for humanitarian pauses to vaccinate Gaza’s children against polio and reiterated warnings about the humanitarian crisis. Borrell stated that he has directed services to begin preparing sanctions against two Israeli ministers for alleged human rights violations. He arrived at the meeting eager for the EU to move beyond taboos and hold accountable those politicians who inflame hatred against Palestinians.
The EU’s foreign ministers recognize that reaching consensus on such steps is challenging, yet the European Union aims to shoulder its responsibilities and propose concrete options for the Twenty-Seven. “I have not cut off ears and a tail, as the saying goes in Spain. But a process is underway; technical groups will examine each case, jurists will review the issues, and member states will decide”, he explained.
Citations: Statements from EU officials and allied governments were circulated to reflect ongoing concerns about venezuelan governance, the integrity of elections, and regional diplomacy. The information reflects a broad consensus among EU members on the need for transparency and accountability in Venezuela, with ongoing monitoring by EU diplomatic services.