On January 23, 2025, the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution condemning Nicolás Maduro's 'usurpation of the presidency' in Venezuela. The resolution accused Maduro of an 'illegal attempt to remain in power by force.'
Eurolegislators expressed that the European Union and its member states have a 'moral duty' to align with the opposition, which welcomed the decision as 'timely and firm.'
The resolution was approved with 374 votes in favor, 53 against, and 163 abstentions. It recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate winner of the July 28, 2024 presidential elections, despite Maduro being proclaimed the victor by the electoral authority, which the opposition claims was fraudulent.
The document stated that Maduro lacks democratic legitimacy, reaffirming that the Parliament does not recognize him. Opposition leader María Corina Machado reacted positively, asserting that 'the world knows that the president of Venezuela is Edmundo González Urrutia.'
Europarliamentarians demanded the Venezuelan government revoke an arrest warrant issued against González, labeling it 'unjustified.' They emphasized that there is no room for ambiguity in the choice between democracy and dictatorship.
On October 10, 2024, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas stated that Maduro 'lacks the legitimacy of an democratically elected president,' highlighting that millions of Venezuelans voted for democratic change by supporting González Urrutia.