Washington, D.C.- Members of the U.S. Congress from both sides of the political spectrum have expressed their support for Maria Corina Machado following her historic landslide primary election victory in Venezuela.
Machado is the frontrunner for a coalition of parties seeking to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power.
President Maduro carries an extensive human rights violation record and has been accused of illegally remaining in power through military coercion and illegitimate elections.
Primary election winner Machado, however, is hopeful that enough widespread support from the citizenry during the next national elections will force Maduro to step down from office.
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), the Ranking Member and Chairman, respectively, of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Democracy and Human Rights, released a statement in support of Machado.
“We congratulate Maria Corina Machado on her victory and commend the tremendous effort of the Venezuelan people in making yesterday’s elections a reality, despite many challenges,” said both Senators.
Sen. Rubio has been closely following Venezuela’s electoral developments. Florida, Rubio’s home state, is home to over 300,000 Venezuelans.
“Uniting in prayer as this democratic resistance effort takes place & courageous Venezuelans both in their homeland & abroad make their voices heard,” said Rubio in anticipation to last weekend’s primaries.
For the first time since Maduro illegally took power, the ppl of Vzla will freely head to polls to make their voices heard in the opposition’s primary elections.
Uniting in prayer as this democratic resistance effort takes place & courageous Venezuelans both in their homeland &…
— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) October 22, 2023
Senator Rubio, although supportive of Machado, is also wary of how current US-Venezuela relations could work to strengthen Maduro’s regime.
As reported by The Floridian, Rubio recently expressed concern regarding President Joe Biden’s granting of four General Licenses that would ensure Venezuelan transactions in the petroleum and gold industries.
The licenses would enrich Maduro’s regime through increased oil revenues.
Rubio alleges the Biden Administration’s foreign relations strategy with Venezuela, by strengthening Maduro, prolongs “the Venezuelan people’s agony under the illegitimate grip of dictator Nicolas Maduro.”
