The High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union, Josep Borrell, referred to Venezuela as a “dictatorial” and “authoritarian” regime. In an interview on Telecinco, Borrell stated that there are over 2,000 people arbitrarily detained after the elections on July 28th, the opposition leader had to flee, political parties are facing numerous restrictions, and seven million Venezuelans have fled the country. Borrell affirmed that all this constitutes a dictatorial regime. However, he emphasized that simply labeling Venezuela as a dictatorship does not solve anything, and sometimes addressing issues requires verbal restraint. Borrell pointed out that Venezuela was not a democracy before, and certainly is not one now.
In response to Borrell’s statements, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yvan Gil, criticized the European diplomat, accusing him of being a spokesperson for evil and a failure in his attempts to harm the Venezuelan people. Gil also condemned Borrell for his role in creating fictional governments such as “Guaidó 1.0 and 2.0” and criticized the European Union for becoming a colonialist and war-mongering institution. The tension between Spain and Venezuela escalated further when the Spanish Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, also labeled the Venezuelan regime as a dictatorship, leading to the Venezuelan government summoning its ambassador in Madrid and the Spanish ambassador in Caracas.
The recent comments made by Spanish officials regarding the Venezuelan government have caused internal political debate in Spain. While the Popular Party supported the recognition of opposition leader Edmundo González as the elected president of Venezuela, the Spanish government has attempted to maintain diplomacy and avoid exacerbating the diplomatic crisis with Venezuela. The Spanish government, in line with the European Union, believes that the only solution to the crisis in Venezuela is a negotiated agreement between Maduro’s government and the opposition. Despite the differences in approach, the diplomatic efforts of the Spanish government facilitated the safe exit and exile of Edmundo González and his wife to Spain.
The evolving situation between Spain and Venezuela has sparked criticism from opposition parties in Spain, such as the Popular Party, urging the Spanish government to take a clearer stance against the Venezuelan regime. The tensions between the two countries have been further exacerbated by recent events, including the opposition leader’s extradition to Spain. Despite the diplomatic challenges, the Spanish government is committed to fostering dialogue and maintaining its influence in Venezuela, as they believe negotiations are the most effective way to address the crisis in the country. As the situation continues to unfold, the role of the international community and the diplomatic efforts of Spain will be crucial in finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Venezuela.
