European progressives call for plenary debate after US strikes on Venezuela

GENEVA

The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament are pushing for a full parliamentary debate following US strikes on Venezuela.

In a post on the US social media platform X, the S&D said it has "requested a plenary debate in the European Parliament on the situation in Venezuela and the EU’s role in defending democracy and a rules-based international order."

The Left group in the European Parliament urged immediate condemnation, saying: "Venezuela is bombed. The European Union must condemn this attack immediately."

"We stand with the people of Venezuela against military aggression," the group said, adding: "Hands off Venezuela."

At the other end of the political spectrum, Spanish far-right leader Santiago Abascal, who is also president of the Patriots party in the EP, blamed Venezuela's leadership, saying: "The narco-terrorist regime of Maduro must surrender immediately and spare the Venezuelan people, whom it has relentlessly and brutally tortured, from suffering."

Earlier, Venezuela’s government accused the US of attacking civilian and military installations in multiple states, and declared ‌a national ‌emergency.

On his social media platform Truth Social, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the US had conducted a "large scale" strike, adding that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country.

The attacks came after months of tension with the US, which accused Maduro of being involved in drug trafficking. Maduro denied being a cartel leader and had expressed readiness to hold talks.