The European Parliament has no legal standing to recognize or not the sovereign and diplomatic status of governments, Maltese MEP Alfred Sant told the European Parliament when abstaining on a resolution calling for the recognition of the Opposition in Venezuela as the rightful government.

“Nor should it seek to achieve such a standing, despite the empty and absurd claim that it will have been the first EU institution to take a definitive stand on Venezuela. It is meaningless for this Parliament to express definitive judgements on a situation as complex as in that country.”

The Maltese MEP said the current Venezuelan regime descends from the first democratic government of Hugo Chavez that introduced social and economic reforms against a no-holds-barred opposition from right wing forces, all out to defend their vested interests. During the resulting struggle, the Chavez and then Maduro governments committed huge mistakes, became unacceptably authoritarian, delivered for a while on their social promises, but ran the market-based economy into the ground. Allegations of corruption abound.

“I cannot endorse such an administration. Neither though, can I bless an Opposition that has been over the years, thoroughly intransigent, ready to sabotage the actions of a legitimate government, and now openly trades with President Trump for his help to take over the state.” remarked the former Prime Minister.

The resolution passed with 439 votes in favour, 104 against and 88 abstentions.