Calls to Reimpose Sanctions on Venezuela Increase as Deadline for Machado’s Reinstatement Nears

Tallahassee, Fl- Florida Senator Bryan Avila (R) has floored a memorial requesting President Joe Biden reinstate recently lifted sanctions on Venezuela. 

Senator Avila’s request is the latest of sundry legislative initiatives which have called for President Biden to reimpose sanctions on President Nicolas Maduro’s authoritarian regime. 

Last October, Biden agreed to partially lift economic sanctions maintained against Venezuela. 

Sanction relief is contingent on Maduro respecting a deal reached with the Venezuelan opposition for presidential elections to be held next year. 

However, the Maduro-controlled Venezuelan Supreme Court recently nullified the opposition’s primary election results and disqualified the winner, Maria Corina Machado, from running.

The US has given Maduro until November 30th to fully reinstate all candidates and warned the US will “take action” if Maduro fails to fulfill his side of the agreement. 

Since then, scores of public officials and political leaders have suggested terminating the deal and punishing Venezuela with renewed sanctions. 

Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fl) called for the US to backtrack sanction relief given Venezuela’s recent actions. 

“Let there be no doubt: Maduro had no intention of upholding the Oct 17th agreement & the result of the elections. The U.S. should reverse all sanctions relief,” said Senator Rubio.

Similarly, US Representative Maria-Elvira Salazar called on President Joe Biden to immediately revoke promises to lift sanctions on Maduro’s regime. 

Salazar claimed “Biden must respond with concrete actions. If he does not do so, he will abandon María Corina and the cause of freedom in Venezuela.”

Avila does not think the US should wait to be disappointed by Maduro on November 30th.  

Explaining how Maduro’s regime has “destroyed countless lives, ruined a once thriving economy, and ruthlessly censored any opposition to Maduro's tyranny,” Avila asked for the immediate imposition of sanctions.