Name: EU bets on Venezuelas democratic transition
Uploaded: 2026-01-05T16:22:14.027Z
Duration: 1 min 27 s
Description: Public statements from Washington, Brussels and European capitals since the U.S. raid on Caracas have revealed a chasm between the two sides of the Atlantic.

Public statements from Washington, Brussels and European capitals since the U.S. raid on Caracas have revealed a chasm between the two sides of the Atlantic.

Caracas

The U.S has launched strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities and arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro along wife his wife.

Venezuela Strikes

The European Union has indicated that the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro could open the way for a democratic transition led by the opposition. The European Commission has refused to recognize Delsi Rodríguez, Maduro's immediate successor, as a legitimate head of state and insists that opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González must be included in the transition process, despite both being in exile.

The EU's position is notably different from that of the United States, with former President Donald Trump claiming control over Venezuela following a military intervention and dismissing Machado's suitability to lead the country. The EU highlighted that millions of Venezuelans have voted for change, supporting González by a significant majority.

EU bets on Venezuela's democratic transition

The European Union believes that the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro could represent an opportunity for a democratic transition led by the opposition. On Monday, the European Commission ruled out recognizing Delsi Rodríguez, Maduro's immediate successor and the interim president, as a legitimate head of state. For the Commission, the transition must include María Corina Machado, leader of the opposition and last year's Nobel Peace Prize winner, as well as Edmundo González, candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Both leave in exile. They have also led in 2024 the Venezuelan people to peacefully exercise their right to vote. We have millions of Venezuelans that have voted for change and they have supported Edmundo González by a significant majority, according to what we had available. So the next steps are about dialogue towards democratic transition, which must include Edmundo González and María Corina Machado. The European position is also at odds with that of U.S. President. Donald Trump has claimed he is in charge of Venezuela after Saturday's military intervention. Furthermore, he declared that Machado did not have the support or respect to run the country.

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EU bets on Venezuela's democratic transition

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