Statement by Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO (S&D,ES) on the Results of the parliamentary election in Venezuela in the EP in Brussels.

Brussels

statement

JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Ramón (S&D, ES)

EU - Venezuela (T)

Results of the parliamentary election in Venezuela : statement by Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO (S&D,ES)

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Ram&#243;n J&#193;UREGUI ATONDO (S&amp;D, ES), "I think yesterday was a great day for democracy in Venezuela, firstly because the elections were held, and they were clean elections, people voted there was a massive turnout and this is the most important. Secondly, the oposition won, I think we should also congratulate them because there is a group of very diverse forces with a programme based on restoring Venezuelan democracy and that's a goo thing. Thirdly, I would like to thank the Venezuelan government for correctly managing the process according to the Constitution, that's also remarkable and clearly a new time has come, a time where the legislative and the executive powers will have different colours, they have to cooperate".

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Ram&#243;n J&#193;UREGUI ATONDO (S&amp;D, ES), "I hope that everything is as normal and democratic as the elections have been. I hope that the Venezuelan Legislative Assembly can be formed in January, with its corresponding powers, we will see how many seats they (the opposition) get, and I believe that dialogue will be essential, because cohabitation will demand that, in a system where the presidency concentrates a lot of executive power, they will have to work toghether and find agreements, especially to address the big problems Venezuela is facing, mainly two: macroeconomy, the currency, having supply, that's essential and then security. These two great causes related to citizens' lives need both parts to find agreements".

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Ram&#243;n J&#193;UREGUI ATONDO (S&amp;D, ES), "An opposition-dominated Legislative Assembly favours a better relationship with the EU, because we have been in close contact with the democratic opposition, they had the support Europe grants to democracies and to Human Rights, that will allow for a better relationship between Europe and Latin America, through Venezuela in this case".

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Ram&#243;n J&#193;UREGUI ATONDO (S&amp;D, ES), (Why wasn't there an mission of observers from the EP to the elections?)"The was a report of the External Action Service and of the embassy of the EU saying there were no appropriate security conditions and we didn't get observer visas either from the Venezuelan government. That made it impossible for us to be present at the polling stations in an institutional role. I personally think that the EP shouldn't wear the tag of the opposition, we don't favour one or the other, we favour democracy".