Rubio, Cardin, McCaul, Kaine, Salazar: “Edmundo González is the Rightful President-elect of Venezuela”
Aug 3, 2024 | Press Releases
The Maduro narco-regime has increased its propaganda and violent campaign against members of the opposition, electoral witnesses, and the free press in the hopes of maintaining its illegitimate grip on power. Extensive evidence shows that opposition leader, Edmundo González Urrutia, is the winner of Sunday’s election.
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA) as well as U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) released a joint statement condemning the Maduro regime for undermining the will of the Venezuelan people during the recent election.
- “As Chairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Chairs and Ranking Members of our respective Western Hemisphere Subcommittees, we stand united in condemning the Maduro regime’s ongoing attempts to blatantly undermine the will of the Venezuelan people, pushing the country deeper into a political and humanitarian crisis.
- “Credible independent electoral observers’ assessments following Sunday’s election undermine the National Electoral Council’s fraudulent and unverifiable declaration that Maduro won the election. The overwhelming evidence, including an estimated 80 percent of vote tallies published online, clearly indicates that the Maduro regime is actively attempting to conceal the truth that Edmundo González is the rightful President-elect of Venezuela.
- “Despite deploying nearly every tactic of authoritarianism to undermine the electoral process and secure a regime victory, the Maduro regime could not deter the Venezuelan people from turning out in droves – peacefully and bravely – to vote for change and a better future. Instead of conceding, the Maduro regime has resorted to what dictatorships do: violently repress its citizens, spread propaganda, and persecute opposition leaders.
- “We unequivocally denounce these actions and urge the United States government to be prepared to use all appropriate tools, including targeted sanctions, as leverage to press the Maduro regime to respect the will of the Venezuelan people and enter into immediate negotiations with President-elect Edmundo González and opposition leader María Corina Machado on a peaceful transition of power.
- “It will be critical for our democratic partners across the international community – particularly Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, CARICOM, and the EU – to support our shared efforts to secure transparent verification of the electoral results, ensure the safety of Machado, González and other opposition leaders, including those seeking refuge within the Argentine embassy, and facilitate a Venezuelan-led peaceful and democratic transition.
- “Together, we must send a clear message to Maduro that the world is watching, and his attempts to overturn the will of the Venezuelan people once again will not stand.”
Want more information?
- August 2024: Rubio, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing Edmundo González as Venezuela’s President-Elect
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- April 2024: Rubio, Risch on Biden Administration’s Decision Not to Extend Oil License to Criminal Maduro Regime
- April 2024: Rubio, Cardin, Cassidy Issue Joint Statement on Venezuela
- March 2024: Rubio, Salazar Applaud House Foreign Affairs Committee Passage of VERDAD Reauthorization Act
- March 2024: Rubio, Durbin, Cassidy, Cardin: “Maduro is scared to confront Machado in a truly Democratic Process”
- February 2024: ICYMI: Rubio Calls Out Biden’s Softness on Maduro
- January 2024: Rubio and Colleagues: the Time to Act on Venezuela is Now
- December 2023: Rubio, Colleagues Issue Statement on Maduro Regime’s Harassment of Democratic Opposition
- December 2023: Rubio Urges Biden to Reinstate Sanctions on Venezuelan Regime
- December 2023: Rubio: President Biden’s Action to Release Saab is Shameless
- November 2023: Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Reauthorization to Preserve Sanctions Against Maduro Regime
- November 2023: ICYMI: the Biden Admin Must Stop Imposing Its Naive Policies on Venezuela
- October 2023: Rubio Questions Secretary Blinken Following Biden Admin’s Deal With Maduro-narco Regime
- October 2023: Rubio: Biden’s Concessions Help Maduro Maintain Authoritarian Grip on Venezuela
- October 2023: Rubio, Kaine on Venezuela’s Opposition Primary Elections
- September 2023: Amid Xi and Maduro Summit, Rubio Urges Biden Admin to Uphold Sanctions Against Narco-regime
- July 2023: ICYMI: Rubio Calls Out Biden for Appeasing Maduro
