Duval Times

SWEETWATER, Fla. - Senator Rick Scott led Venezuelan community leaders in a demonstration organized by Independent Venezuelan-American Citizens (IVAC) in support of opposition presidential candidate María Corina Machado and a future of freedom and democracy in Venezuela. During the demonstration, Senator Scott called María Corina Machado on the phone to join the protest while she continues to campaign throughout Venezuela and faces threats of unjust arrest for political reasons by the corrupt and evil regime of dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Senator Rick Scott said, "Over two million Venezuelans around the world, including many of you here today, have made their voices heard and have chosen María Corina Machado as the official opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. This is a significant moment in the Venezuelan people's struggle for freedom and true representative government. We cannot waste this opportunity to advance our fight for democracy in Venezuela, and I recently wrote to President Biden urging him to recognize this moment and immediately review the conditions for the relief of sanctions that the administration has recently offered to the Maduro regime. Additionally, I introduced a resolution echoing these priorities on the Senate floor. Now is the time for American strength. Maduro and his thugs, who have horrifically murdered and oppressed the Venezuelan people for years, must understand that only the return of democracy to Venezuela through free and fair elections will result in a relief of sanctions from the United States. I will never stop fighting until we see a free and democratic Venezuela!"

Following reports of the suspension of "all effects" of the Venezuelan primaries by Nicolás Maduro's illegitimate Supreme Court after the successful primaries of opposition candidate María Corina Machado, Senator Scott wrote a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to immediately review the conditions for the relief of sanctions that the administration has recently offered to the Maduro regime and recognize María Corina Machado as the legitimate leader of the opposition. Senator Scott supports the conditions that the Maduro regime must fulfill for the Venezuelan opposition, and since they were not met, Senator Scott urges President Biden to consider re-implementing severe sanctions.

This week, Senator Scott also took to the Senate floor to introduce and request immediate approval of his resolution recognizing María Corina Machado as the official opposition presidential candidate of Venezuela for the upcoming presidential elections. Senator Scott calls on the United States to support María Corina Machado and the brave people of Venezuela who have rallied behind her to free Venezuela from the brutal oppression imposed on them by Nicolás Maduro and ultimately bring freedom and democracy to their country. This resolution is co-sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio and was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart. While Senate Democrats blocked its approval on the Senate floor, Senator Scott received a commitment from the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to address this resolution in his committee, a crucial step in ensuring a vote to approve it on the Senate floor.

Additionally, Senator Rick Scott joined Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) in issuing a statement regarding the Maduro regime's arrest warrants against members of an opposition party.

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For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2023/12/el-senador-rick-scott-encabeza-manifestaci-n-en-apoyo-a-la-candidata-presidencial-de-la-oposici-n-venezolana-mar-a-corina-machado