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having regard to its previous resolutions on Venezuela,

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having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.

whereas Venezuela’s 2024 elections could be a turning point towards a return to democracy; whereas the country is experiencing institutional, economic and political instability; whereas over seven million people have been forced to leave the country;

B.

whereas public information, freedom of opinion and expression and the right to assembly have been systematically restricted;

C.

whereas three principal rectors of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) have resigned, forcing the two remaining ones to resign, and the illegitimate National Assembly has appointed representatives of the regime to select the new rectors;

D.

whereas the arbitrary and politically fabricated disqualifications of candidates, like the 15-year disqualification of María Corina Machado and those of other prominent political figures such as Leopoldo López, Henrique Capriles and Freddy Superlano, go against the recommendations of the EU election observation mission (EOM) and severely restrict Venezuelans’ rights to choose their representatives;

E.

whereas this is yet another move by the regime, through the CNE, to hamper the electoral process and quash any prospect of a return to democracy;

F.

whereas the Organization of American States, UN bodies, the USA, the main leaders in the region and the EU VP/HR have made statements condemning this;