Spain's foreign minister has urged the EU to consider sanctioning Venezuela if Nicolas Maduro goes ahead with changing the constitution. But the bloc's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini says there's time to wait.
Image: Reuters/C. Veron
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More than 7 million people came out to cast their votes Sunday in an informal poll against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's plans to rewrite the country's constitution.
Maduro says the opposition move doesn't count and he'll go ahead with the scheduled July 30 vote on creating a new "constitutent assembly" which will have the right to annul the current opposition-led parliament and change the constitution.
But if Maduro does make those changes, he may have resistance coming from outside as well as inside his country.
Violence as Venezuelans vote in opposition-led poll
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Canada makes itself clear
Canada became the first government to unambiguously throw its support behind Sunday's show of opposition, with Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland openly slamming Maduro's government and telling it to change course.
"Canada congratulates the people of Venezuela for exercising their democratic rights today during the national unofficial vote on the government's plan to rewrite the constitution and the political future of their country," Freeland said in a statement laced with criticism. "While this public consultation was unofficial, the millions who had the courage to participate, in spite of cowardly violence and censorship, sent a clear signal to the government of Venezuela."
Freed Venezuelan opposition leader vows to fight on
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"Canada calls on the Venezuela government to cancel the national constituent assembly and enter into negotiations with the opposition," she added, "in order to restore constitutional order in a manner that focuses on the legitimate concerns of the Venezuelan people."
Brussels puts Venezuela on back burner
In Brussels, the outrage is coming more slowly to a boil. The situation in Venezuela was formally on the agenda of foreign ministers' regular monthly meeting, but only Spain's Alfonso Dastis spoke up.
"The solution to the crisis in Venezuela should be negotiated, democratic and peaceful," Dastis said upon arrival at the meeting. He did say, however, that it's time for the EU explore the possibility of imposing sanctions against government figures, including the president, to pressure him not to move in the undemocratic direction he has planned.
Following the meeting, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini expressed little urgency in sending a tough message to Maduro before the end of the month.
"We still have some time," Mogherini told a news conference. "I hope the time from now til the 31st of July can be wisely used to look for the unity of the country and avoiding any further escalation."
She views the opposition vote as a "clear sign that there is a political will of the population that includes negotiations and peaceful solutions" and hopes partners in the region will help make that happen.
More than 7 million people marched in opposition to Maduro's plans to rewrite the constitutionImage: Getty Images/AFP/J. Barreto
Andrew Stroehlein of Human Rights Watch was much less sanguine about the situation. "Venezuelan authorities at the highest level bear responsibility for pervasive, serious abuses being committed under their watch, including the brutal repression of public demonstrations and cases of torture," he told DW. "The top priority for the international community, including the EU, right now should be to try to prevent them from ramping up that repression even further. That means pressing for accountability: The outside world needs to give the generals reason to fear that any abuses they commit will get them punished - if not now, then in a not-too-distant future when the rule of law is restored."
Lopez-Isturiz White, who serves as Secretary General of the European People's Party (EPP), said he and many others in the European Parliament want Europe to take tougher action against the Maduro regime, preferably personal sanctions. He said the EU should prove it stands for freedom and democracy and against the people who trample those principles.
"While we don't believe in things like the US blockades," Lopez-Isturiz White told DW, "we believe in sanctions that don't affect the normal people." He said he expects to see EP reaction move forward in September if the situation doesn't change and that a majority of lawmakers will be in favor of punishing the government for its actions.
Venezuela on the brink
Venezuela is facing collapse amid multiple crises. DW takes a look at what has brought the oil-rich nation to its knees.
In March 2017, violent protests erupted across the country in response to a Supreme Court decision to strip the legislative branch of its powers. Amid an international outcry, President Nicolas Maduro reversed the decision, but it was too late. Thousands continued to take to the streets, calling for new elections. More than 100 people were killed in clashes with security forces.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Barreto
Hunger, a growing problem
The violence added to the ongoing economic and political crisis in Venezuela. Many Venezuelans spend more than 30 hours a week waiting in lines to shop, and are often confronted with empty shelves when they finally enter a store. President Maduro blames the crisis on US price speculation. The opposition, however, accuses the Socialist government of economic mismanagement.
Image: picture-alliance/AA/C. Becerra
Health care in crisis
The crisis has even affected health care in the oil-rich nation. Venezuelans often head to Colombia to collect medical supplies to send home, as seen in this picture. Hospitals across Venezuela have compared conditions to those seen only in war zones. As patient deaths rise, health officials have sounded the alarm on the rise of malaria and dengue fever.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/M.Duenas Castaneda
Power grab
By July 2017, Venezuela's pro-government Constituent Assembly was established. For observers, it had all the hallmarks of a power grab. The new body adopted the authority to pass legislation on a range of issues, effectively taking away the powers of Venezuela's elected congress, which was under the opposition's control. The move drew wide international condemnation.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Miraflores
The West sanctions
In response to the political crisis, the United States and European Union imposed a series of sanctions against ruling officials. The US blacklisted members of the Constituent Assembly and froze all of Maduro's assets that are subject to US jurisdiction. The EU banned arms sales to the country.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/AFP/T. Schwarz
Government victorious in regional elections
In October 2017, Venezuela held two votes: regional elections and elections for governors, which were long overdue. The opposition boycotted the vote, but then split, as some candidates and small parties chose to participate. This caused a deep rift within Maduro's opponents. The government went on to sweep the vote, which detractors say was unfair and heavily favored the regime.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
Debt default
In November 2017, the oil-rich, cash-poor nation faced its day of reckoning. Credit ratings agencies declared Venezuela and its state-run oil company in "selective default." But Russia offered to restructure the South American country's debt to ensure Caracas pays its other creditors. US and EU sanctions, however, limited the chance of an agreement.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
Presidential elections scheduled
The National Assembly announced in January 2018 that it would grant Maduro's call for snap presidential elections. The electoral authority, CNE, held the elections on May 20. The EU, the US and 14 Latin American nations warned that they would not recognize the results. The mainstream MUD opposition alliance boycotted the vote, leaving only one possible outcome.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. Parra
Maduro wins ...
Maduro was re-elected to a second six-year term with about 68 percent of the vote. Turnout was only 46 percent, according to electoral authorities. However, the MUD opposition alliance put turnout at less than 30 percent. The Organization of American States (OAS) called the elections neither free nor fair.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
... Guaido assumes power
But weeks into the new year, the situation took a drastic turn. On January 23, 2019, parliament president Juan Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela — a move that was quickly recognized by US President Donald Trump. Maduro called it a US-backed "coup." Days later, the US sanctioned Venezuela's state oil firm, while Guaido staked his claim on the country's foreign assets.
