On October 8, 2024, the Venezuelan Parliament, dominated by the ruling chavista party, approved a resolution urging President Nicolás Maduro's government to sever diplomatic, consular, and commercial ties with Spain. This decision follows the Spanish Congress's recognition of Edmundo González Urrutia, an exiled opposition leader, as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
The resolution demands an urgent evaluation of the relationship with Spain, labeling the Spanish Congress's actions as 'grotesque' interference in Venezuela's sovereignty. It further calls for an immediate cessation of all commercial activities involving Spanish companies in Venezuela.
This escalation comes nearly a month after the Spanish Congress, despite opposition from the ruling Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), passed a non-binding proposition initiated by the Popular Party (PP) to recognize González Urrutia as president. The Maduro administration has faced accusations of electoral fraud regarding its recent elections, which the opposition claims were illegitimate.
The situation reflects the ongoing tensions between Spain and Venezuela, particularly surrounding issues of political legitimacy and international recognition.