EU Parliament passes resolution recognizing Venezuelan opposition leader as president

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The European Parliament has passed a resolution recognizing Venezuelan opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the legitimate president of Venezuela, following disputed elections in July. The resolution, which passed with 309 votes in favor and 201 against, is non-binding and does not represent the formal position of individual EU member states.

Gonzalez Urrutia, who has since fled to Spain, claims he won the presidential election, a position supported by Venezuela's opposition and recognized by the United States. However, the incumbent, Nicolas Maduro, declared victory in the same election. In response to the resolution, the European Parliament called for efforts to ensure that Gonzalez Urrutia can assume office on January 10, 2025.

The resolution was backed by the conservative EPP bloc and the far-right Patriots for Europe, prompting criticism from left-wing members of the European Parliament. French lawmaker Raphael Glucksmann expressed concern over the cooperation between conservatives and the far-right.

Gonzalez Urrutia thanked the European Parliament, describing the resolution as a recognition of "the sovereign will of the people of Venezuela." Meanwhile, the Venezuelan parliament condemned the resolution, describing it as "aggression" by the European Parliament and accusing it of recognizing "false governments." Maduro's socialist PSUV party holds a majority in the Venezuelan parliament, following opposition boycotts in the 2020 elections.