MEPs debate the situation in Venezuela following the abduction of ex-President Nicolás Maduro and the need to ensure a peaceful democratic transition.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were extracted from Caracas by US soldiers during a pre-dawn raid on 3 January 2026. They were subsequently flown to New York where they are facing court charges, including for narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine to the US, and possession of machine guns. In parallel, President Donald Trump has also announced that Washington will “run Venezuela”, including its oil industry, for the time being.

During the plenary debate, MEPs will assess the situation and are expected to emphasise the need for a swift and peaceful transition to real democracy in Venezuela. In 2024, the European Parliament awarded Venezuelan opposition politicians María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The latter was also recognised as the country’s legitimate president by MEPs in a resolution adopted the same year.

EP Plenary debate on the situation in Venezuela

DROI - Workshop on the Human rights dimension of EU-Latin America relations in the context of the EU-CELAC Summit

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at the Munich Security Conference 2025 - Participation at the Spotlight Session on Venezuela

Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2024 Sakharov Prize laureates and finalists

Sakharov Prize 2024 - Meeting with Venezuelan diaspora

European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought - Media interviews

EP Plenary session - Ceremony of the 2024 Sakharov Prize

Press conference on European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2024

AFET DEVE DROI  joint Committee meeting with Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2024 laureates

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2024 - Interviews with laureates

President Metsola participates in the Munich Security Conference. She exchanges with Edmundo GONZÁLEZ URRUTIA, President-elect of Venezuela and Sakharov Prize laureate 2024 on the situation in Venezuela during a Spotlight Session. The 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) offers an unparalleled platform for high-level debates on the key foreign and security policy challenges of our time.

Munich Security Conference 2025 - Spotlight Session on Venezuela with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Edmundo GONZÁLEZ URRUTIA, President-elect of Venezuela and Sakharov Prize laureate 2024: opening statements

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. MSC is the world's leading forum for debating the most pressing challenges to international security. This video includes her arrival and cutaways of her participation to the spolight on Venezuela with Edmundo GONZÁLEZ URRUTIA, President-elect of Venezuela and Sakharov Prize laureate 2024.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at the Munich Security Conference 2025: atmosphere

On the occasion of the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, Ana Corina Sosa (daughter and representative of María Corina Machado, the 2024 laureate), give a statement on the current situation in Venezuela and the significance of the Sakharov Prize. The award is presented to María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia in recognition of their efforts to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela. In their pursuit of a fair, free, and peaceful transition of power, they have unwaveringly championed the values that millions of Venezuelans, as well as the European Parliament, hold dear: justice, democracy, and the rule of law.

Award of the 2024 Sakharov Prize: statement by Ana Corina Sosa (daughter and representative of María Corina Machado), Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, María Corina MACHADO, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, Edmundo GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect and the Venezuelan opposition movement, Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate hold a press conference .

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, María Corina MACHADO, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, Edmundo GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect and the Venezuelan opposition movement, Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

EP President Metsola awards the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, and Edmundo González Urrutia, the President-elect of Venezuela. Ceremony and hand over of the prize

Ceremony of the 2024 Sakharov Prize: Ceremony and hand over of the prize

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Edmundo GONZÁLEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect, Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate and Ana Corina SOSA (daughter and representative of María CORINA MACHADO), Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate, followed by the Sakharov 2024 Prize ceremony. This news item shows extracts from the meeting between President Metsola and Sakharov 2024 laureates; and extracts from the ceremony of the Sakharov Prize 2024.

Award of the 2024 Sakharov Prize: meeting between Roberta METSOLA, EP President and the laureates and extracts from the ceremony

EP President Metsola awards the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, and Edmundo González Urrutia, the President-elect of Venezuela. Statements by María Corina MACHADO, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, Edmundo GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect and the Venezuelan opposition movement Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Ceremony of the 2024 Sakharov Prize: Statements by María Corina MACHADO, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, Edmundo GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect and the Venezuelan opposition movement, Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

EP President Metsola awards the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, and Edmundo González Urrutia, the President-elect of Venezuela. Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Edmundo (VE)

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