ECR to present Edmundo González Urrutia as Sakharov Prize nominee; Preparations for the October I plenary session

ECR to present Edmundo González Urrutia as Sakharov Prize nominee

On Thursday 26 September, a joint meeting of the Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Development (DEVE) and the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) will see the political groups of the European Parliament present their nominees for the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The ECR Group will put forward Edmundo González Urrutia as its nominee. González is a Venezuelan politician and diplomat who became the Unitary Platform’s presidential candidate for the 2024 election after María Corina Machado was disqualified from running. Despite González winning 67 per cent of the vote according to opposition figures, Nicolás Maduro was proclaimed president, sparking protests and international condemnation, with the European Union refusing to recognise Maduro’s victory. Following the unrest, during which 2,400 people were arrested and 24 died, González was charged with various offenses, including usurpation of functions. He had to flee to Spain, where he was granted asylum in September 2024. The ECR Group stands with the people of Venezuela and recognises that the EU has a serious duty to mount pressure on Maduro and his corrupt socialist kleptocrats. Awarding the prize to González would send a powerful message to the international community that business can no longer go on as usual as far as Maduro’s regime is concerned. On 19 September, 2024 the European Parliament also adopted a resolution condemning the current regime in Venezuela and acknowledging Edmundo González as the rightful President-elect of the country. The AFET and DEVE Committees will vote on a shortlist of three finalists on 17 October and the Conference of Presidents will take a decision on the final laureate on 24 October.

When: Thursday @ 09:00

Preparations for the October I plenary session

MEPs will meet in Brussels to prepare for the October I plenary session in Strasbourg, which will take place from 7 to 10 October. MEPs anticipate the key debate on the presentation of the programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency. On Tuesday, the ECR Group will hold a preparatory group meeting.