Spain will support the elections in Venezuela "if there is a space for them to be held with guarantees"

Spain sees a little closer the possibility that Venezuela can hold elections with democratic guarantees.

The Foreign Minister, Arancha González Laya, assured this Monday that she will support that option if the requirements are met.

"If there is space, no matter how small, for elections to be held with democratic conditions, Spain will support it," she summarized at a press conference from the Ministry's headquarters.

The words of the Minister of Foreign Affairs go a step beyond what has been said so far about the possibility that Venezuela can organize parliamentary elections that enjoy international support.

Asked about this same issue in July, González Laya emphasized how difficult it will be to accept the electoral result if the rules of the game are not respected.

And just a few days ago, sources from the ministry concluded: "We do not consider that the conditions for holding elections are in place."

The main novelty that guides the assessments of diplomacy is the irruption of Henrique Capriles on the Venezuelan board.

Spain watched with interest the movement of the opposition to agree to participate in the December elections with certain guarantees of cleanliness, a turn rejected by Juan Guaidó, the interim president recognized by almost 60 countries - including Spain - to try to promote a democratic exit to conflict.

When asked what is the Spanish position regarding this movement, the minister has avoided mentioning Capriles, but has transmitted that message more favorable to the elections.

In any case, González Laya has insisted that the electoral conditions can only be set by Venezuelans themselves and has referred Spain's final position to the negotiations taking place within the European Union.

This Thursday the head of Spanish diplomacy will participate in the meeting of the international contact group led by the EU to seek a compromise between the Government of Nicolás Maduro and the opposition.

At that meeting, the High Representative for European Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, will present an assessment on whether the conditions are in place for holding elections at the end of the year.

In addition to European countries, Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Uruguay have joined this group.

In recent days, the European diplomatic service has transmitted that it is rash to send EU observers - one of the proposals that Maduro launched for Europe to validate the Venezuelan elections - if they take place on December 6, as planned.

Thursday's meeting will serve to establish a clearer position on the calendar and electoral conditions in Venezuela.