The leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces and the opposition candidate in the July presidential elections has been awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
The EU Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola announced the winners of the 2024 prize in the chamber in Strasbourg on Thursday.
This follows a meeting of the Conference of Presidents which took the decision.
The award is named after Soviet political dissident Andrei Sakharov and is the EU’s highest human rights award.
Created in 1988, it is awarded every year by Parliament to individuals or organisations, in recognition of their work in one of the following areas: the defence of human rights and fundamental rights, in particular freedom of expression, the safeguarding of minority rights, respect for international law, the development of democracy and the defence of the rule of law.
Metsola said: “The 2024 Prize is awarded to María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia for their brave fight to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela. In their quest for a fair, free and peaceful transition of power, they have fearlessly upheld values that millions of Venezuelans and the European Parliament hold so dear: justice, democracy and the rule of law.”
“Parliament stands with the people of Venezuela and with María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia in their struggle for the democratic future of their country. This award is for them.”
María Corina Machado was elected as the Venezuelan opposition’s presidential candidate on behalf of the Unity Democratic Platform in 2023 but was later disqualified by the regime-controlled National Electoral Council.
Edmundo González Urrutia, a former diplomat and politician who succeeded her as the Unity Democratic Platform candidate, denounced the Venezuelan government’s failure to publish the official results of the presidential elections and contested Nicolás Maduro’s declared victory. González Urrutia left the country in September after a warrant was issued to arrest him.
In a resolution, MEPs stressed that international election observation missions said that the Venezuelan presidential election did not comply with international standards of electoral integrity.
They recognised Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate and democratically-elected president of the country and María Corina Machado as the leader of the democratic forces.
Parliament condemned the electoral fraud and the serious and systematic human rights violations perpetrated against the democratic opposition, the Venezuelan people, and civil society.
The European Conservatives and Reformists Group says it is delighted that its candidates have won the Sakharov Prize.
ECR Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini said: “The European Parliament is paying tribute to the peaceful but tenacious and democratic Venezuelan opposition, which has been fighting for freedom for years.”
“It is a sign of support for all the people who have been living under oppressive conditions for many years. We are pleased that we Europeans are sending them this message of solidarity and the love of freedom.”
According to the Venezuelan government, 2 400 people were arrested during demonstrations that followed the election and non-governmental organisations have reported the deaths of 24 people. María Corina Machado remains in hiding, while Edmundo González Urrutia fled to Spain, which granted him political asylum on 7 September.
In its September 2024 resolution, Parliament called on the EU to extend sanctions against the Venezuelan regime.
The award ceremony will take place on 18 December in Strasbourg, during Parliament’s plenary session.
