Meloni will demand the release of political prisoners in Venezuela

The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, will insist on the need to demand the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela during the next Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, which will deal with the situation in the Latin American country, he explained this Tuesday before Parliament.

«We do not recognize the proclaimed victory of (Nicolás) Maduro after a non-transparent election and we continue to condemn the unacceptable repression of the regime, demanding the release of all political prisoners“said Meloni in his appearance in the Senate to explain the Italian position at the summit of European leaders.

For the Italian government, the result of the elections held in Venezuela last July announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE), giving Maduro the winner lacks credibility and democratic legitimacyand has insisted on requesting the publication of the electoral records.

Italy, in its capacity as interim president of the G7, the group of the most industrialized democracies on the planet – Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom – has insisted on the importance of the international community supporting the Venezuelan opposition.

«We have reiterated it in all G7 communications during our presidency. Together with the EU, we work for a democratic and peaceful transition in Venezuela, so that the will of the millions of Venezuelans who continue to risk their lives for a more democratic, prosperous and secure future can finally be realized“added Meloni before the senators.

The Venezuelan situation “is of particular interest to us, also because of the many citizens of Italian origin who are in a land that even the name unites with Venice and Italy,” added the far-right leader.

EU leaders meet on the 17th and 18th in Brussels to discuss Ukraine, the Middle East, competitiveness and migration, as well as other issues, including the crisis in Venezuela.

In his speech at the UN Assembly, Meloni urged the international community not to remain “impassive” about the situation in Venezuela, where a “brutal repression” is being carried out, to “raise our voice” against to “the death of dozens of protesters, the arbitrary detention of thousands of political opponents, the indictment and exile of the presidential candidate of the democratic opposition.”