Florida's congressional delegation denounces Maduro election

While Members of Florida’s congressional delegation rarely see eye-to-eye on many domestic and foreign policy issues, when it comes to denouncing Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro's criminal regime and human rights violations, Democrats and Republicans stand shoulder-to-shoulder.

After Maduro conducted a fraudulent election, an election that the opposition boycotted, the Trump administration and prominent elected officials openly stated their thoughts on the bogus election.,

Maduro thought he scored a huge win a mandate as the results give him full control of Venezuela’s socialist government.

“We have recovered the National Assembly with the majority vote of the Venezuelan people,” Maduro said in a televised address, according to The Associated Press. “It’s a great victory without a doubt for democracy.”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that  the elections “do not meet any minimum standard of credibility and are nothing more than an attempt to steal Venezuela’s democratic future,” adding that all nations needed to “reject this electoral sham.”

In a joint statement, Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Donna Shalala, and Donna Shalala called Maduro’s move as a “pathetic charade” that needs to be denounced by every nation.

“Nicolas Maduro cannot fool the people of Venezuela. He is a murderous dictator that doesn’t respect human rights or the will of his people. The appearance of democracy is not democracy. The world knows that this election, coordinated by the Maduro regime, is nothing more than a sham. The United States and freedom-loving countries around the world have recognized Juan Guaidó as the legitimate President of Venezuela, and this pathetic charade won’t end our unwavering support. Every nation needs to join us in denouncing the Maduro regime and fighting for freedom and democracy - and that starts with calling this vote what it is: a sham.”

Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart stated: “The U.S. condemns the illegitimate Maduro regime’s fraudulent Dec. 6 legislative elections. They do not meet any minimum standard of credibility and are nothing more than an attempt to steal Venezuela’s democratic future. We call on all countries to reject this electoral sham.

“Nicolas Maduro cannot fool the people of Venezuela. He is a murderous dictator that doesn’t respect human rights or the will of his people. The appearance of democracy is not democracy. The world knows that this election, coordinated by the Maduro regime, is nothing more than a sham. The United States and freedom-loving countries around the world have recognized Juan Guaidó as the legitimate President of Venezuela, and this pathetic charade won’t end our unwavering support. Every nation needs to join us in denouncing the Maduro regime and fighting for freedom and democracy - and that starts with calling this vote what it is: a sham.”-Sen. Rick Scott (R)

“The Maduro regime continues to desperately cling to power by moving forward with illegitimate sham elections. The elections and their predetermined outcomes represent yet another horrifying assault on democracy. We stand with the Venezuelan people experiencing a devastating humanitarian crisis and as they fight to have their voices heard.”- 

Senator Marco Rubio (R), the largest voice of opposition to the Maduro regime stated the following:

“Following yesterday’s fraudulent legislative elections by the Maduro regime, it is clear that the Venezuelan people have refused to lose their dignity or their aspirations of living in a nation free from tyranny and oppression,” Rubio said. “Not even using the exploitation of food products, through the regime’s CLAP boxes, as a political weapon forced Venezuelans to cast their vote. The large abstention and empty poll sites are signs that the people of Venezuela are fed up with the regime’s manipulation and constant lies. These sham elections have zero credibility and demonstrated that the corrupt narco-regime is more isolated than ever. The message from democracies worldwide must be loud and clear: these so-called ‘elections’ are not only a farce, they are also maneuvers by the dictator to silence Interim President Juan Guaidó and the members of Venezuela’s democratically elected National Assembly.”

Sen. Rubio has been directly targeted by the Maduro regime. The U.S. government identified a credible death threat to Rubio by Venezuelan government leader Diosdado Cabello.