Response to interpellation 2025/26:364 on the democracy movement in Venezuela
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the democracy movement in Venezuela and how Sweden can promote human rights and democracy in the country. M argues that Sweden and the EU are actively working within international mechanisms and that the government has been a strong advocate for the EU's sanctions against key figures in the regime 1 2. M emphasizes that clear democratic progress is required before any easing of sanctions can be considered 2. M also wants to reform the UN Security Council to limit the right of veto 1 3. SD wants to ensure continued hard pressure on the regime and expand sanctions 4. SD also proposes support for people's ambassadors and security programs for activists 5.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! Markus Wiechel has asked me if I share the assessment that the current international mechanisms are insufficient to handle Venezuela's dictatorship and that the application of international law in practice often gives the regime room to maneuver at the expense of the population.
Markus Wiechel has also asked me if I am prepared to work for an expanded use of the EU's global sanctions regime (Magnitsky sanctions) against key individuals and enablers within Venezuela's regime, including those who facilitate links to rogue states such as Russia and Iran.
Markus Wiechel has also asked me if the government intends to push for stronger coordination between the EU and democratic countries in Latin America, in the form of a "democratic coalition", to enable joint actions when the UN system is blocked and to counter the influence from allied dictatorships.
Markus Wiechel has, in addition to this, asked me if I intend to take the initiative for reforms that in practice limit dictators' ability to block international action – for example by reforming the veto power in the UN Security Council, developing alternative multilateral formats, or deepening cooperation between democracies, with a particular focus on breaking geopolitical alliances between rogue states.
Markus Wiechel has finally asked me how the government intends to strengthen support for Venezuela's democratic movement, free media, and civil society so that the international community's efforts provide concrete protection for the population and are not reduced to symbolic gestures, while simultaneously addressing the regime's international networks that contribute to global instability.
The Government sees no contradiction between standing up for international law and safeguarding people's human civil and political rights. Safeguarding international law is a cornerstone of Swedish foreign policy. For Sweden's security and stability in the world around us, it is crucial that a rules-based world order based on international law, including human rights, is upheld.
Together with other EU countries, Sweden is actively working within existing international mechanisms to ensure that democracy and human rights are respected. Sweden and the EU have for a long time expressed great concern over the situation in Venezuela, and we continue to monitor the developments in the country closely.
It is pleasing to see that a number of democracy and rights-related advances have been made in Venezuela in recent weeks, not least the release of a larger number of political prisoners. But much more needs to be done. Sweden participates actively in the discussions taking place within the EU to contribute in the best possible way to a democratic development in Venezuela.
The EU introduced sanctions against Venezuela in 2017. The government has been a strong advocate for these sanctions. The purpose of the sanctions is, among other things, to support a democratic development with respect for human rights in the country. The sanctions have recently been extended by one year.
EU sanctions remain an important tool for exerting pressure on key figures within the Venezuelan regime. The government is currently awaiting the developments in Venezuela, which will be decisive for the government's view on how sanctions should be used in Venezuela going forward.
The Government has further been strongly pushing for deepened cooperation between the EU and like-minded countries in Latin America. Sweden and the EU have a well-developed dialogue with these countries, not least through the cooperation between the EU and Celac, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, which is a well-established cooperation body for countries in the region. During Sweden's EU Presidency in the spring of 2023, we were involved in the preparations for the summit between the EU and Celac that same summer, and at the most recent summit in November 2025, we participated at the ministerial level. The Government also participates in the annual ministerial meeting between the EU and Latin America during the UN High-Level Week.
Sweden is actively promoting democracy issues in these trans-regional contexts as well as in our bilateral relations with the countries in Latin America. Democracy and human rights are also important issues in our development cooperation with these countries.
The Government considers that a reform of the UN Security Council is needed and works for more permanent and non-permanent members. The possibility of a veto in the UN Security Council should be limited, and the Government supports initiatives that work for this. The Government is actively working, both bilaterally and in international contexts, to deepen cooperation between Sweden and other democratic states, within and outside the Latin American context.
The government's support for civil society in Venezuela has included, among other things, targeted support to free and independent media. The government most recently, in August 2024, increased the support for freedom of the press and freedom of expression by 10 million. Sweden was also the second-largest bilateral humanitarian donor to Venezuela last year. In this way, Swedish funds will benefit the population. Supporting Venezuelan civil society will remain a cornerstone of our support for Venezuela.
The Government will continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining the rules-based world order. We will also, together with the EU, continue to work to promote democratic development and respect for human rights in Venezuela.
Markus Wiechel (SD)
Madam Speaker! Today we are debating many exciting issues, and several of them overlap with one another.
Just now, the Minister for Foreign Affairs spoke about Cuba, an ally of the Venezuelan regime. In Cuba, various methods have also been used to make it appear as if democratic changes are being implemented, but in reality, they are not really doing so. That is often the case in Venezuela as well.
I am thinking specifically of one thing in the Foreign Minister's response, where she mentioned the release of political prisoners as something pleasing. It is naturally positive that one releases political prisoners, but the question is how grounded in reality this is. Are there actually any changes occurring in Venezuela that are sustainable, or is this something that could be regarded as tactical maneuvers to ease the pressure from the outside world? It is difficult to know. Regardless, I think one needs to ensure continued hard pressure on the regime.
We have, as we have said, also discussed other issues today. Before the Cuba debate, we had an interpellation debate about Syria, which, like Venezuela and Cuba, was an ally of Russia before the regime's fall. This goes somewhat hand in hand. I am of the opinion that one needs to ensure tough sanctions against all types of regimes that oppress their people, undermine international terrorism, and so on.
I perceived that the minister was positive towards harsh sanctions against Venezuela, and I think that is good. But we now have a situation where, from the EU side, there has been an opening to potentially ease the sanctions against Venezuela's interim president. I see this as worrying and therefore have a question: Can Sweden instead be proactive in trying to expand the sanctions and ensure that the regime does not just get a reprieve to try to further strengthen its positions?
I mean, as I said, that we need to put hard pressure on the regime both for the sake of the Venezuelan people and given the regime's connections to Russia, Iran, and so on.
I have one final question before I let the Minister for Foreign Affairs answer this. Can the Minister for Foreign Affairs imagine ensuring that Sweden leads initiatives for a new coalition with, for example, democratic states in Latin America?
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Markus Wiechel, for a very important interpellation!
We are now seeing a hopeful formative stage in Venezuela. Around 600 political prisoners have been released so far, and in February a historic amnesty law was adopted by consensus of the Venezuelan parliament. This is a welcome step in the right direction, but the processes lack transparency, and up to 800 prisoners are still being held imprisoned. In dialogue with the EU, Sweden naturally advocates for all political prisoners to be released.
Regarding sanctions, the government views the possibility of using sanctions as a foreign policy tool positively. As I have already mentioned, the EU has had sanctions against Venezuela since 2017. Several key individuals responsible for serious violations of or crimes against human freedoms and rights in Venezuela are already covered by sanctions; this also applies to interim president Delcy Rodríguez. A review of the listings takes place annually, and the sanctions were last extended in December 2025.
I too have noted the information that several different people from the EU side are now advocating for easing of the sanctions. Sweden wants to see clear steps towards democracy in order to consider any potential easing of sanctions, and at the current moment, our assessment is that sufficient progress has not been made to justify such easing. This has also been put forward from our side within the EU.
At the same time, sanctions are only one of many tools to promote democracy and human freedoms and rights. The Government is in continuous contact with civil society in Venezuela through the embassy in Bogotá. To this can be added that in 2024, the Government allocated 10 million in targeted funds to support organizations, networks, and actors working with issues of freedom of expression and press freedom as well as independent media in Venezuela.
We have much contact with the legitimate leaders of Venezuela, Edmundo González and Maria Corina Machado. I met Edmundo González a year ago, and I spoke with Maria Corina Machado a few weeks ago. It is naturally important that we support them in different ways.
I am not sure that a new network is what is needed. Just as I described in my initial post, we already have many functioning dialogues with networks that exist in the form of Celac, and I believe that one can build upon that. It is important that we show our support in the best possible way, and I believe fundamentally that we agree on this.
Markus Wiechel (SD)
Madam Speaker! I can agree; I also believe that we are in complete agreement. I see it as positive that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has clearly shown where she stands on this.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs mentioned the legitimate representatives. Can the government imagine expanding the work to, for example, support people's embassies? Given the current situation, they do not always have the same opportunity as the illegitimate representatives to conduct diplomatic activities in Sweden.
When it comes to other plans to protect oppositionists, democracy activists and others, I wonder if there are any concrete security programs or the like that the government could consider supporting to support journalists and activists? Or can one try to act in some other way for this?
Last but not least – before the Foreign Minister gets the chance to speak again – I want to mention that the USA and Italy have moved in the direction of potentially reopening their embassies in Venezuela. Is this something that can also be envisioned from the Swedish side?
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! The Government is actively participating in the discussions taking place within the EU to support a democratic development in Venezuela. Sweden and the other EU member states continue to maintain close contact with civil society and the opposition in Venezuela as well as with other countries in the region, with the USA and with important actors such as the UN.
As I mentioned, I have spoken with Maria Corina Machado repeatedly, most recently just two weeks ago. I also met the opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González in January last year and expressed, naturally, my full support for the Venezuelan opposition.
In addition to the support for freedom of expression and press as well as independent media in Venezuela 2024, Sweden, as I have already mentioned, also has significant humanitarian support to Venezuela. The people in the country have suffered in a terrible way and continue to do so.
Sweden was also the third largest humanitarian donor to Colombia last year, with a particular focus on the 3 million Venezuelan migrants who are in the country. Many of these are, of course, hoped to be able to return when they see a better development in Venezuela.
In such a development, the government will naturally also examine how we best maintain our presence in the country. The discussion on embassy presence is ongoing, and if a development occurs, it is clear that such a question will be raised again. Together with our partners, we will closely monitor the development and, not least, work for respect for human freedoms and rights, democracy, and the principles of the rule of law.
Markus Wiechel (SD)
Madam Speaker! I look forward to following this work, not least when it comes to trying to get more political prisoners released but naturally also when it concerns the democratic reforms that are needed.
I also hope that the Foreign Minister can imagine pushing for changes within the UN. This is, of course, a long-term task, but UN reforms with a focus on the veto and the like would, not least in these types of situations, be welcome.
Last but not least, I intended to do a little promotion for the Sweden Democrats' aid foundation, which this week will probably begin an intensive work in cooperation with the democratic opposition in Venezuela. I hope that the Foreign Minister can also follow this work, where I hope that we will achieve success for a better democracy in the country.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! I thank Markus Wiechel for an important and good debate.
I am completely convinced: If one truly believes that international law should be defended and preserved, the UN must also be developed. I have said it many times before: We do not need a new UN, but we must truly reform the UN. In that regard, the right of veto is an important issue. We must be able to make important decisions much faster, and large repressive regimes should not be allowed to have a veto to the extent that it does today.
I am very pleased that there is such great support for the cause of the Venezuelan people and for the importance of working so that they can choose their own direction. There, of course, international law also comes into the picture.
We are trying in every way we can to support a democratic development with the release of prisoners and respect for civil and political rights in Venezuela. The debate will continue.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.