EU Ambassadors to Boycott Maduro's Inauguration Ceremony
Ambassadors from European Union member states will not attend the inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, scheduled for January 10 in Caracas. This decision follows a consensus reached during a meeting of the European Council's Latin America and Caribbean Working Group (COLAC) held in late December. Although the group's decisions are not binding, the majority of the EU's 27 member states have aligned with this stance.
The EU has refused to acknowledge Maduro's victory in the elections held on July 28, citing the regime's failure to publish the election results, which it was legally obligated to do. Consequently, the EU will not send representatives to Maduro's swearing-in for a new six-year term. It remains uncertain what practical consequences this stance will have, especially since, apart from Italy, EU countries have not recognized the opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia's victory either. Election results released by the opposition and validated by the Carter Foundation indicated a substantial win for González.
In 2019, the Western bloc, led by the United States, recognized Juan Guaidó, then President of the National Assembly, as the interim president of Venezuela. Many nations subsequently froze Venezuelan state funds in their banks. However, European partners currently appear less inclined to pursue similar actions.
During the European summit on December 19, leaders expressed deep concern regarding the situation in Venezuela, called for the release of political prisoners, and pledged to use all available resources to support democracy and foster a peaceful and inclusive transition in the country. A dozen European nations maintain ambassadorial representation in Caracas, including Spain, whose ambassador Álvaro Albacete recently assumed his post. The EU's delegation is currently led by Spanish Chargé d'Affaires Antonia Calvo Puerta, following the expulsion of the EU ambassador by the Chavista regime in 2021.
The anticipated international presence at Maduro's controversial inauguration is expected to be minimal. Russia has declared it will send Viacheslav Volodin, the President of the Duma, while representatives from China and Turkey, nations with favorable relations with Caracas, are also expected to attend. Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico, countries that previously sought to mediate between the Chavista regime and the opposition, will also send representatives, albeit only their ambassadors.
The opposition is leveraging Maduro's international isolation to bolster support for González Urrutia, who is being received as the elected president during his tour through Argentina, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and the United States, where he plans to meet with President Joe Biden and visit the Organization of American States (OAS). In Panama, González will be supported by former Latin American leaders from the IDEA (Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas) group, which includes notable ex-Prime Ministers of Spain such as Felipe González, José María Aznar, and Mariano Rajoy. The former socialist Prime Minister has even expressed a willingness to accompany González Urrutia on January 10, despite the Maduro regime offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
