site.btaEP President Metsola Says Edmundo González and María Machado Stand for Everything that Is Freedom of Thought

At a ceremony in Strasbourg Tuesday,  the European Parliament (EP) conferred the Saharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2024 to Venezuelan opposition leaders Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado.

As she opening the award ceremony, EP President Roberta Metsola said: "In their quest for justice, democracy and the rule of law, Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado are fearlessly upholding values that millions of Venezuelans and the European Parliament hold so dear. This award is not just a recognition but also a reminder that the fight for freedom is never in vain. The future of Venezuela belongs to its people and the European Parliament stands proudly with them." 

Attending the ceremony were Edmundo González Urrutia and the daughter of María Corina Machado, Ana Corina Sosa.

Edmundo González said in his remarks that the opposition in his country showed the world the truth of what happened on election day in Venezuela. “Sooner rather than later, our country will take a turn in a direction determined by our people. The abuse and violence of these days is just a clumsy attempt to postpone what is unavoidable.”

Immediately after the press conference, the EP proceeded with presenting the prize in its plenary hall. It began with thunderous applause from the MEPs for the honourees.

María Corina Machado was elected opposition candidate for the Venezuelan presidency on behalf of the United Democratic Platform in 2023, before being disqualified by the government-controlled National Electoral Council. Edmundo González Urrutia, a diplomat and politician, succeeded Machado as the main opposition candidate after her disqualification. He denounced the failure to publish the official results of the July 2024 presidential elections and contested Nicolás Maduro’s declared victory. He left Venezuela in September 2024, following the issuing of an arrest warrant against him, and was given refuge in Spain, the EP said of the honourees.