A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators is seeking to pressure Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro to accept his defeat by Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia in the latest presidential election.
Gonzalez was forced to seek political asylum in Spain after the Maduro regime threatened to arrest him.
Following Gonzalez’s departure, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) released a joint statement supporting Gonzalez and condemning Maduro.
Political instability has plagued Venezuela as Maduro persecutes dissidents challenging the validity of his presidency.
Maduro has reportedly detained thousands of political dissidents denouncing his illegitimate rule, ignoring warnings from foreign governments and international institutions.
Together, the senators condemned Maduro’s actions, alleging they violate the Democratic will of the Venezuelan people and basic human rights.
“More than a month after facing defeat at the polls, dictator Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian crackdown persists,” reads the statement.
The Senators continued, claiming “Maduro has resorted to his usual playbook of violent repression and the use of his security services to censure and repress those peaceful protesters demanding their vote be respected.”
Further, they called on the international community to unite in opposition to Maduro.
Meanwhile, Maduro has shown no signs of faltering, openly defying the US and other countries recognizing Gonzalez as the president-elect.
Venezuela’s elections follow failed negotiations between Venezuela’s government and President Joe Biden’s administration over electoral assurances in exchange for sanctions relief.
Despite promises of allowing free and fair elections, the Venezuelan regime barred opposition leader Machado from participating in the same.
However, Machado invested her political capital into former Venezuelan Ambassador Edmundo Gonzalez, who subsequently won the presidential elections.
Machado recently addressed University students and faculty in Florida International University’s (FIU) Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom.
“This is a critical moment for Democracy not only in Venezuela but also for the Americas and the world,” said Machado, who expressed her belief that “the Truth” is the most valuable asset for combatting autocracies.
