PP Avoids Judgment on US Venezuela Operation

The Popular Party is navigating a new international controversy involving Venezuela and the United States. Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by US forces, the party led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo has declined to offer a definitive opinion on the operation's legality.

Instead of characterizing the event as a violation of international law, the party is deferring the decision to the International Criminal Court. This approach is consistent with the party's previous handling of the Gaza conflict, where they also appealed to international courts to determine the classification of events. Additionally, the party has leveled accusations against the government, suggesting that the capture is being used as a tool to distract the public from other political matters.

The Popular Party has chosen a path of rhetorical caution regarding the United States' military action in Venezuela. Rather than taking a firm stance on whether the capture of Nicolás Maduro constitutes a breach of international legal norms, the party leadership has pivoted to a position of judicial deference.

Following initial statements on Monday that expressed 'doubts' about the operation, the party's executive committee has refined its messaging. The current position is that the determination of legality does not rest with political actors, but with the judiciary. “Decidirá un tribunal si Trump ha vulnerado el Derecho Internacional” (A tribunal will decide if Trump has violated International Law), stated party sources.

This stance effectively avoids a direct confrontation with the United States while maintaining a veneer of respect for international legal institutions. By invoking the Corte Penal Internacional (International Criminal Court), the party sidesteps the need to label the operation as either legitimate or illegal in the immediate political term.

This specific approach to Venezuela is not an isolated incident. It mirrors the strategy employed by the party during the summer holidays regarding the conflict in Gaza. During that period, the party leadership resisted classifying the invasion as a 'genocide'.

Similar to the current situation, the party refused to take a definitive political position on the Gaza conflict. Instead, they explicitly appealed to the International Criminal Court as the only competent body to issue a ruling on the matter. This recurring strategy suggests a deliberate policy of relying on international legal mechanisms to navigate highly sensitive geopolitical issues.

The consistency of this approach highlights a preference for judicial solutions over political declarations. By waiting for a tribunal's verdict, the PP insulates itself from the political fallout of making controversial judgments on international affairs.

While the Popular Party refrains from judging the actions of the United States, it has been vocal in its criticism of the domestic government. The party asserts that the administration is exploiting the capture of Nicolás Maduro for political gain.

According to the party, the government is using the event to manipulate the public agenda. The accusation suggests a deliberate attempt by the government to 'desviar el foco' (shift the focus) away from other pressing issues or political vulnerabilities. This dual strategy allows the PP to criticize the government's handling of the narrative while remaining neutral on the substantive international legal questions raised by the US operation.

In summary, the Popular Party is maintaining a consistent but controversial stance on international law. By refusing to characterize the US operation in Venezuela as a violation of sovereignty, and by deferring all judgment to the International Criminal Court, the party avoids taking a risky political position. However, this neutrality regarding the United States stands in sharp contrast to their aggressive criticism of the domestic government, which they accuse of using the crisis to distract the public. As the situation evolves, the party's reliance on judicial bodies will likely remain their primary shield against political accountability in international disputes.