Sun Sep 15 16:41:56 UTC 2024: ## EU Chief Diplomat Calls Maduro’s Regime “Dictatorial” Amidst Diplomatic Tensions
**Caracas, Venezuela/Madrid, Spain (September 16, 2024):** The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has condemned Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro regime as “dictatorial” and “authoritarian,” citing the forced exodus of millions of Venezuelans, including opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, who was granted asylum in Spain last week.
In an interview with Spanish television station Telecinco, Borrell highlighted the “thousand restrictions” placed on political parties and the lack of democratic freedoms in Venezuela, claiming, “It was not a democracy before, and it is much less so after.”
Borrell’s comments come amidst escalating tensions between Madrid and Caracas. On Saturday, the Maduro regime announced the arrest of two Spanish citizens, three Americans, and a Czech national, accused of plotting “terrorist” acts, including an alleged attempt on Maduro’s life. However, Spanish Foreign Ministry sources have denied any link between the two Basque tourists and Spanish intelligence services.
The EU’s stance mirrors that of several Western nations, which have condemned Maduro’s regime for human rights abuses and lack of democratic process. Borrell’s blunt assessment further emphasizes the international community’s growing concern over the situation in Venezuela.
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