The People's Party (PP) is calling for elections now in Venezuela: "Venezuelans must have the ability to decide."

Madrid"A democratic electoral process is necessary." The People's Party (PP) maintains its demand for elections in Venezuela following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and believes that the future of the South American country "depends on the democratic electoral process" that "allows Venezuelans to have the ability to choose." This was the statement made on Wednesday by the PP's Deputy Secretary for Finance, Housing, and Infrastructure, Juan Bravo, who aligned himself with the position that three days ago he verbalized –in writing– Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who advocated for a "horizon" based on a "democratic electoral process." The PP leader presented the leadership of Edmundo González and María Corina Machado as the "democratic, peaceful, and constitutional path" to "recover freedom." This Wednesday, the Popular Party reaffirmed its commitment to "democratic elections" in which the opposition can return to the country –Edmundo González He went into exile in Spain in September 2024 and received political asylum three months later—and that they allow citizens "to demonstrate freely with all the necessary security."

Juan Bravo's statements come hours after Donald Trump made it clear that his roadmap does not include elections in the short term: "First we have to fix the country. There can't be elections, there's no way people can vote," the US president argued in an interview. NBC NewsPreviously, Trump had questioned María Corina Machado's ability to govern Venezuela, arguing that she "doesn't have enough respect or support in the country." Furthermore, the US government is in contact with Delcy Rodríguez, who was Maduro's vice president and who on Monday She was sworn in as president of the countryAnd he boasts that, for the moment, Venezuela is "cooperative." This is a course of action not shared by the People's Party (PP), which believes that Venezuela's future "cannot depend" on Delcy Rodríguez because she was the "dictator's right-hand woman." On Sunday, Feijóo denounced that she "represents the darkest past" and embodies an "operation to ensure the regime's continuity."

Meanwhile, the Spanish government continues to offer itself as a mediator to "bring positions closer" and "build bridges" without "adding fuel to the fire." In the press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called for building Venezuela's future "through dialogue among Venezuelans, in a democratic manner and always by peaceful means."

Silence on the peacekeeping mission in Ukraine

Meanwhile, the PP has prescribed caution after Pedro Sánchez opens the door to send Spanish troops to Ukraine on a peacekeeping mission. Juan Bravo complained that they hadn't been contacted and avoided commenting until the Popular Party knows "what the peace agreements are" and "what the mission's conditions are." And, in a strategy of deflecting responsibility, he placed the burden of closing ranks with the Socialist leader on the usual partners of the Spanish government: "The important thing isn't whether the PP will support it; Sánchez's partners are others." Minister José Manuel Albares criticized the Popular Party for being "very out of touch" on this issue and pointed out that there isn't yet a plan, but rather a "draft of a plan."