The Venezuelan opposition begins a European tour in Spain to show unity

Gerardo Blyde Pérez, head of the opposition delegation at the dialogue table with Chavismo, during a press conference on January 20.GABY ORAA (REUTERS)

The Unitary Platform that brings together the Venezuelan opposition has begun a tour of Europe to try to recompose international positions on the Venezuelan political crisis, amid a relaxation of pressure against Nicolás Maduro.

The first stop was in Madrid, where an opposition sector called for Spain's more active participation in the negotiations between the Chavista government and the opposition in Mexico.

This process seems to have stalled after an agreement was reached in October to unfreeze funds from the Venezuelan State abroad, blocked by sanctions, to use them for humanitarian assistance under the administration of the United Nations.

Three months later, no progress has been made on that.

For the head of the opposition delegation, Gerardo Blyde, "it is an important tour to strengthen the negotiation process in Mexico and realign interests," although he did not directly participate in the meeting in Madrid.

This Sunday, the Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, received part of the opposition delegation.

The official said that Spain "will accompany the dialogue" at the request of the opponents, but it is not clear how and if a representative will be appointed.

"The opposition has asked me for Spain to be as close to the dialogue process as possible and, of course, I have answered them in the affirmative," he told the EFE news agency.

The Acción Democrática and Un Nuevo Tiempo parties, in particular, are interested in aligning visions and strengthening the intermediation of Spain, with the socialists in power, in the Venezuelan crisis and its resolution.

The tour begins in Spain for that reason.

In a sector of the opposition they interpret that the Government of Spain wants to assert its historical ties with Latin America and be a privileged spokesperson.

But this meeting also takes place in the same week that Nicolás Maduro received Ramón Santos as ambassador in Miraflores, a step that increases the relationship between the two countries, which had been maintained with business managers since November 2020. Minister Albares has said that the embassy in Caracas will have an important role in the support that Spain can give to the Venezuelan crisis.

Popular Will, for its part, has criticized these advances in diplomatic relations, which in addition to Spain have already occurred with France and other countries such as Colombia and Argentina.

From his point of view, it is not possible to continue advancing in concessions to Chavismo without it responding to the demands of the opposition in the negotiations.

“If the countries of Europe want to support a negotiated solution, they cannot continue giving concessions to Maduro without anything in return.

Relations cannot be reestablished when there are no democratic conditions,” leader Freddy Guevara told EL PAIS from Berlin, the second stop on the tour.

The politician points out that it is necessary to return to Mexico to discuss the political agenda, which includes the release of political prisoners, the lifting of political disqualifications and the setting of guarantees and dates for the presidential elections, issues that Chavismo has systematically evaded.

His party, and that of Guaidó and Leopoldo López, in a minority within the opposition coalition, prefers to direct efforts in Brussels, the Netherlands and Germany, in addition to the United States, which continues to support the Venezuelan opposition and whose representatives have indicated recently that if there is no progress, the sanctions that have already been relaxed could be reinstated.

The opposition coalition also seeks to offer some cohesive vision abroad and strengthen the idea that they are working on the same effort despite the differences that have become more notable after the dissolution of the interim government of Juan Guaidó.

With this decision agreed in December by the members of the so-called G4 - made up of the largest opposition parties - a new limbo has been entered regarding the ignorance of the Maduro regime, which was adopted by part of the international community in 2019.

This has prompted the international community to review its dialogue with Venezuela, in a new geopolitical context due to the war in Ukraine, a scenario in which the South American oil country, financially sanctioned by the United States, could rejoin the energy market.

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