Spain’s center-right Popular Party (PP) is intensifying its campaign to pressure Nicolás Maduro’s regime for the release of two Spanish citizens detained in Venezuela. As reported by Spanish newspaper El Mundo, José María Basoa and Andrés Martínez Adasme face unsubstantiated charges of espionage and conspiracy against the Venezuelan president. The PP’s initiative aims to rally European and international support for their immediate and unconditional release, while calling for tougher sanctions on Maduro’s regime.
Diplomatic Push and Broader Sanctions
As Nicolás Maduro seeks to secure a new presidential term, widely considered fraudulent by the international community, the PP is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to hold the regime accountable. Among the measures proposed are:
- Diplomatic Campaign: The PP has submitted a motion to Spain’s Congress demanding that the Sánchez government spearhead a diplomatic offensive, both domestically and internationally, to advocate for the detained Spaniards.
- Enhanced Sanctions: The party is urging the Spanish government to push for an expansion of European Union sanctions against top Venezuelan officials. Proposed measures include additional asset freezes, travel bans, and stricter economic restrictions.
- International Condemnation: Spain is called upon to lead efforts for a global denunciation of Maduro’s repressive practices, particularly the use of unfounded espionage allegations to target foreign nationals and opposition figures.
Repression Under Maduro’s Rule
It would seem that the arrests of Basoa and Martínez Adasme are not isolated incidents. The PP suggests that these incidents may be indicative of a broader pattern of political persecution by Maduro’s regime, which has been known to employ fabricated charges in an effort to silence dissent. It would seem that Venezuelan human rights groups and international observers have identified a growing reliance on intimidation and arbitrary detentions by the regime as a means of maintaining power.
As the new term of President Maduro approaches, European nations are facing an increasing number of calls to take action. The PP’s campaign is in line with calls from the Venezuelan diaspora and global democracy advocates for more robust measures against a regime that has been accused of undermining democratic principles and violating human rights.
Europe’s Role in the Crisis
The Popular Party believes that Spain has a responsibility to play as a leading European voice on Latin American issues. Spain could play a role in supporting democracy and human rights in Venezuela by using its influence in the EU to push for unified actions against Maduro’s government, from sanctions to political pressure.
It is anticipated that the motion will be discussed in Spain’s Foreign Affairs Committee, while the Senate will consider a resolution encouraging the government to consider a contingency plan (“Plan B”) should Maduro remain in power.
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First published in this link of The European Times.
