Award Ceremony
of the European Parliament in Strasbourg
“No government based on violence is stable.” With these words, Venezuelan president-elect Edmundo González Urrutia accepted the Sakharov prize awarded to him as well as to leader of Venezuelan democratic forces María Corina Machado for their efforts to defend freedoms and democracy. The award ceremony took place on December 17th during the plenary session of the European Parliament. María Corina Machado was represented at the ceremony by her daughter Ana Corina Sosa and joined the ceremony through a live stream to give a speech. During the live stream, Corina Machado denounced the oppressive politics of the Venezuelan government which have destroyed democratic institutions, divided the Venezuelan population and caused hyperinflation. Nonetheless, the immense protests by the opposition give Corina Machado hope for change. González Urrutia adds: “Venezuela’s fight for freedom and democracy is the fight for these values in the whole world.”
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola awarded the Sakharov Prize, highlighting the laureates’ fearless defence of justice, democracy and the rule of law. Metsola emphasized the Parliament’s support for the Venezuelan people and for the country’s struggle for a democratic future.
Prize Background
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is given annually since 1988 by the European Parliament to human rights defenders. Winners of the Sakharov Prize include South African politician and activist Nelson Mandela in 1988, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2021 and symbol of Iranian resistance Jina Mahsa Amini in 2023. The name of the prize honors Andrei Sakharov, Soviet physicist and political dissident.
Situation in Venezuela
María Corina Machado had been chosen as the opposition candidate for the Venezuelan presidency, representing the ‘United Democratic Platform,’ but was later disqualified by the government-controlled National Electoral Council. Instead, Edmundo González Urrutia became the main opposition candidate in Venezuela’s elections in July 2024. Despite evidence of Gonzáles Urrutia winning the elections, the presidency was once again given to Nicolás Maduro. This has sparked anti-government protests in Venezuela, many of whose participants were arrested by security forces. Edmundo González fled to Spain in September following an arrest warrant issued against him. He is planning on returning to Venezuela in January to take office as president.
Sakharov Prize Breakfast
ASSEDEL had the pleasure to not only follow the Sakharov Prize and its Press Release at the European Parliament, but also participate in a breakfast on December 19th organized in honor of the 2024 laureates for the Prize at the Hôtel de Ville of Strasbourg. At this breakfast, Edmundo González Urrutia and Ana Corina Sosa spoke about the importance of Europe’s support for the Venezuelan opposition and called for EU countries to follow suit with the European Parliament in recognizing González Urrutia as the democratically elected President of Venezuela. Corina Sosa furthermore described the situation of Venezuelan’s opposition, including imprisonment, torture and living in exile. She spoke about her mother who was forced to go into hiding by herself after having been threatened to be arrested by Maduro’s government.
