A tribute to Venezuela鈥檚 free thinkers
The winners of Europe鈥檚 prize for 鈥渇reedom of thought鈥� are two opposition leaders who create unity among Venezuelans by respecting a diversity of views.
The winners of Europe鈥檚 prize for 鈥渇reedom of thought鈥� are two opposition leaders who create unity among Venezuelans by respecting a diversity of views.
The highest honor that the European Union bestows each year is an award to an individual or group from anywhere for defending 鈥渇reedom of thought.鈥� Picking a winner often entails quiet and collegial deliberation between parties on the left and right in the European Parliament. This year, the nominees ranged from Elon Musk to a jailed climate activist in Azerbaijan.
During the prize selection, a respect for each other鈥檚 thought process usually helps form a parliamentary consensus, reinforcing the fact that freedom of thought is not just an ideal. It is practical.
This year鈥檚 winners of the Sakharov Prize 鈥� named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov 鈥� are models for the mental freedom that includes seeing the inherent dignity in others. They are Venezuela鈥檚 Mar铆a Corina Machado and exiled presidential candidate Edmundo Gonz谩lez Urrutia, leaders of a big-tent opposition coalition known as the Democratic Unitary Platform.
By most accounts, Mr. Gonz谩lez won a rigged presidential election in July that should have ousted socialist Nicol谩s Maduro, South America鈥檚 longest-ruling authoritarian leader. Mr. Gonz谩lez聽has since fled to Spain.
The European Parliament's award was specific in citing the two opposition leaders 鈥� who reflect different parts of the political spectrum 鈥� for representing all Venezuelans who are 鈥渇ighting for the restoration of freedom and democracy.鈥� Mr. Gonz谩lez is a centrist and former diplomat, while Ms. Machado is a conservative former lawmaker from a wealthy family.
During his campaign, Mr. Gonz谩lez set a high tone. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time for the big Venezuelan family to come together once more,鈥� he told CNN en Espa帽ol. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time that the adversary is respected as such, and not seen as an enemy.鈥�
Ms. Machado described the campaign as a 鈥渟piritual fight,鈥� or one in which people dig deep into their conscience. 鈥淓ven people that are not religious or don鈥檛 believe in God were praying together,鈥� she told The Times in September.
鈥淚鈥檓 reaching out not only to democratic governments around the globe but also to freedom-loving people who understand that what鈥檚 going on in Venezuela is a vanguard for the fight for freedom in the western hemisphere and involves all of us.鈥�
The unity of the Democratic Unitary Platform coalition relies on the free expression of opinions and a listening to opposing arguments. By treating each other as moral equals, they hope to find the best path for Venezuela鈥檚 return to democracy. 鈥淭oday our struggle continues,鈥� Ms. Machado said, 鈥渂ecause truth persists until it prevails.鈥�