Colombian Congress recognizes Edmundo as president

The parliamentarians who signed the motion also rejected what they called “a notorious fraud” and the serious acts of violence committed by the Maduro regime after the elections. They also expressed their solidarity with the victims of repression and “encouraged” the Venezuelan people to “recover freedom and democracy.”

“The House of Representatives cannot be indifferent to the notorious electoral fraud perpetrated by the regime of Nicolás Maduro in the elections of July 28 and cannot remain silent in complicity in the face of the systematic persecution to which the political opposition figures led by María Corina Machado and Edmundo González are being subjected,” says the document approved on Monday.

“We see (those who voted against the proposal) do not have a clear democratic commitment. It is really worrying that such a large party, which is currently exercising power, is not capable of rejecting electoral fraud in Venezuela basically because of sympathy or ideological proximity. We believe that this is the least that can be done from Colombia as an act of solidarity with the Venezuelan people.Forero added.

Among those who opposed the proposal was that of the representative for the Historic Pact, Pedro Suárez Vacca, who said he did not agree with the terms of the document filed by Forero.

«Of course we stand in solidarity with the victims of human rights violations, but just because we do not agree with the terms of this statement does not mean that we support human rights violations or that we have to recognise a presidency because you want it. Besides, it is not up to us. The responsibilities of the Chamber are enshrined in the Political Constitution. That does not mean that we support any dictatorial regime.the parliamentarian noted.

Representative Gabriel Becerra, from the same political movement, defended the position that the Colombian government has taken in the face of the political crisis in Venezuela. “You cannot favor illicit interests on the border and not favor a political solution, which is what President Petro is promoting,” the legislator added.

Colombia: a similar measure in Spain

On September 11, the Spanish Congress of Deputies approved a motion urging Pedro Sánchez’s government to recognize González Urrutia as the president-elect of Venezuela. The measure, promoted by the Popular Party, received 177 votes in favor and 164 against.

A day after the motion was approved, Sánchez received González – who is in asylum in Spain – at the Moncloa Palace, a fact that generated a diplomatic crisis with Venezuela.