Venezuelan opposition leaders Machado, Gonzalez awarded EU Parliament's Sakharov Prize

Venezuelan opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez were on Thursday awarded the European Parliament's annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The EU parliament awarded the bloc's top rights Sakharov prize on Thursday to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and her ally, former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.

They won the prestigious award for their fight for democracy under President Nicolas Maduro's iron-fisted rule.

Machado, 57, played a key role in Venezuela's presidential election in July. Although the authorities proclaimed Maduro the winner, the opposition believes its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won.

Gonzalez Urrutia, 75, went into exile in Spain in September.

"Edmundo and Maria have continued to fight for the fair, free and peaceful transition of power and have fearlessly upheld those values that millions of Venezuelans and this parliament hold so dear: justice, democracy and the rule of law," Metsola added.

"We are confident that Venezuela and democracy, will ultimately prevail," she added.

(AFP)


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