Tepid responses from Europe to the new fraud by dictator Nicolás Maduro

Yesterday marked one week since the presidential elections in Venezuela, which culminated in yet another fraud by the Maduro regime.

Maduro is earning merits to end up like another dictator called Nicolás in 1989
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In the last few hours we have heard three statements from Europe regarding the situation in Venezuela. Curiously, the least bad statement has come from the Council of the European Union, which states the following: "the National Electoral Council of Venezuela (CNE) has not yet published the official voting records (“actas”) of polling stations. Without evidence to support them, the results published on 2nd August by the CNE cannot be recognised." There is one paragraph that is at least curious:

"Copies of the electoral voting records published by the opposition, and reviewed by several independent organisations, indicate that Edmundo González Urrutia would appear to be the winner of the Presidential elections by a significant majority."

Would appear? This is putting oneself in profile. Either Edmundo González is a winner or he is not. Waiting a week to issue such an insufficient statement is outrageous. But the statement also adds this:

"At this critical time, it is important that demonstrations and protests remain peaceful. The European Union calls for calm and restraint. Venezuelan authorities, including security forces, must fully respect human rights, including freedom of expression and of assembly."

That is to say, the Council of the European Union is asking for "calm and moderation" from the protesters before asking a dictatorship to respect human rights. I don't want to imagine what kind of statement the European Union would issue today if what happened in Romania in 1989 had just happened. Let's keep in mind that the Maduro regime is murdering opponents... and the EU is asking the opposition for "calm and moderation"!

It sounds like a practical joke, but there are worse ones. Late on Saturday, Pedro Sánchez's government published a joint declaration by the governments of Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal on Venezuela. The full text can be read here. It is shorter than the declaration by the Council of the European Union.

However, the statement from those seven governments does not even recognize Edmundo González as the winner. Instead, it states: "We call on Venezuelan authorities to release promptly all the tally sheets in order to guarantee the full transparency and integrity of the electoral process." This was a logical request a week ago. Today it only serves to give Maduro time to present falsified minutes.

At this point in the film, I understand that socialist and European People's Party governments have signed such a lukewarm statement. It is more of the same in their way of dealing with what is happening in Venezuela. What I do not understand is why Giorgia Meloni has joined this, since on Friday Italy joined a more explicit and clear statement, signed by more countries. I admire the Italian Prime Minister, but I do not understand why she has allowed herself to be dragged by the socialist Pedro Sánchez to sign something like this.

I have left the most regrettable for last, a statement that has left me stunned:

"Let us entrust Venezuela to the intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto. I make a heartfelt appeal to all parties to seek the truth, resolve disputes through dialogue and care for the true good of the people and not for partisan interests."

This is the message published yesterday by Pope Francis. I am Catholic and I am still in shock. It took the pontiff a week to speak out about the situation in Venezuela, and his statement could be summed up as "be good and get along". How much I miss a great and courageous Pope like the Polish Saint John Paul II...

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Photo: Efe.