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Machado ran as the democratic opposition candidate in
Venezuela’s contested 2024 presidential election, but she was
disqualified by the government, so González took her place. He
had never run for office before the presidential election.
The lead-up to the poll saw widespread repression, including
disqualifications, arrests, and human rights violations. Machado
went into hiding, fearing for her life. A Venezuelan court
issued an arrest warrant for González, who moved to Spain and
was granted asylum.
“In their quest for a fair, free and peaceful transition of
power, they have fearlessly upheld values that millions of
Venezuelans and the European Parliament hold so dear: justice,
democracy and the rule of law,” Metsola told EU lawmakers.
“This parliament stands with the people of Venezeula and with
Maria and Edmundo in their struggle for the democratic future of
their country,” she said, adding: “We are confident that
Venezeula and democracy will ultimately prevail.”
Machado’s group maintains that it has evidence that González won
the July 28 presidential election by a wide margin against
Venezuela’s authoritarian incumbent president, Nicolás Maduro,
despite his claim to have won.
Maduro’s victory was contested by independent observers,
including the United Nations. In a resolution last month, the EU
parliament recognized González as Venezuela’s legitimate
president.
The EU award, named after Soviet dissident Nobel Peace Prize
laureate Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor
individuals or groups who defend human rights and basic
freedoms.
The winner is chosen by senior EU lawmakers from among
candidates nominated by the European Parliament’s various
political groups. The assembly says the award is “the highest
tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work.”
Two Middle East grassroots groups – Women Wage Peace and Women
of the Sun – were on the shortlist for their efforts to bridge
the divide between Israelis and Palestinians, as was Azerbaijan
academic and anti-corruption activist Gubad Ibadoghlu.
Several laureates, including Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai,
Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, went on to win the Nobel Peace
Prize.
The annual award, with its 50,000-euro ($54,000) endowment, will
be presented in a ceremony at the European Parliament in
Strasbourg, France, in mid-December.
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