Brussels, May 20, 2020.

The Executive Committee of the Central Democratic International (IDC-CDI) has today called for a joint, determined and solidary solution to face the current health emergency as well as the unprecedented economic and social crisis caused by the pandemic of the coronavirus.

During the Executive Committee held by videoconference, with representatives from 37 parties from 37 countries from all over the world, the centre-right international organization has requested that the vaccine be accessible to all citizens asking for coordination in the exchange of scientific information and mutual assistance.

The Committee has also urged governments to implement urgent plans for economic revitalization and reconstruction of the productive fabric based on job creation, credit flexibility and direct aid to SMEs, appealing to promote international trade relations and requesting the international community to suspend and avoid new sanctions that could aggravate the economic and social situation of the least developed countries.

The President of the IDC-CDI, former Colombian President Andrés Pastrana, stressed: “I especially regret the situation of citizens under the dictatorships of Cuba and Venezuela, who are already suffering a very serious social and economic situation caused by the years subjected to Castrists  and Bolivarians regimes. This crisis situation can now multiply leading to an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.”

The Secretary General of the IDC-CDI, Secretary General of the EPP, Antonio López-Istúriz, said: “I denounce that countries such as Russia, Iran and China have hidden data since the beginning of the pandemic. I ask for a full investigation on the origin of the virus. There are regimes that want to wash their image now, but I want responsibilities to be purified.”

These demands have been included in a resolution on the need for a solidary and comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The text welcomes the aid package approved by the European Union that includes the purchase of debt for 750,000 million euros, the mobilization of 37,000 million euros to protect SMEs and up to 100,000 million to mitigate the consequences of unemployment. It also highlights the worldwide campaign to raise funds for research and universal access to coronavirus treatments and vaccines, which is led by the European Commission and which has raised €7.4 billion.

The Executive Committee approved the admission as a full member of the Panameñista Party of Panama.

The text of the approved resolution can be seen at the following link: https://bit.ly/2yk90Lz

Note to editors

The International Centre Democratic Party (IDC-CDI) is a centre-right organisation composed by 94 political parties from 73 countries all over the world.

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