Venezuela: European Parliament view arrest of Judge Afiuni

Venezuela: European Parliament view arrest of Judge Afiuni as an attack on judicial independence – El Universal

The European Parliament adopted the resolution on Thursday. Antonio García, Venezuela’s ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, rejected the motion and said that it is a move driven by the Spanish People’s Party, with “political and electoral intentions”.

POLITICS
The Plenary Session of the European Parliament adopted on Thursday a resolution proposed by center-right parties, which describes as an “attack on judicial independence” the imprisonment in Venezuela of Judge María Lourdes Afiuni, who was arrested after she authorized the release pending trial of a banker accused of fraud.

“The resolution has no legitimacy,” said in an interview with Efe Venezuelan Ambassador to Belgium and the EU, Antonio García. The diplomat added that the resolution was driven by the Spanish People’s Party, with “political and electoral intentions” ahead of the parliamentarian elections to be held on September 26 in Venezuela.

The resolution was adopted by 46 votes to 20 with 1 abstention.