Duval Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott issued a statement ahead of the upcoming presidential elections in Venezuela this Sunday. Prior to the elections, the regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro disqualified the main opposition candidate, María Corina Machado, from participating. In recent months, members of Machado's team have faced attacks and arrests by Maduro's forces. Since taking office, the Biden-Harris administration has repeatedly taken steps to appease dictators like Maduro and has not defended freedom and democracy in Venezuela and across Latin America.

Senator Rick Scott stated: “If given the opportunity for a truly fair and free election, I believe the people of Venezuela will choose to vote for their country's future and reject the murderous dictator Nicolás Maduro this Sunday. For too long, Nicolás Maduro and his thugs have deprived the Venezuelan people of this by attacking their political opponents, using violence and threats in a desperate attempt to maintain power over a people who despise him.

“This election must be different. Maduro must allow the Venezuelan people to finally exercise their right to vote in a free and fair election. President Biden and Vice President Harris have shown nothing but weakness and appeasement towards Maduro, which has fueled his oppression of the Venezuelan people. The Biden-Harris administration must immediately reimpose the sanctions it lifted without guarantees from this murderous regime and demand that Maduro allow a peaceful transfer of power when a true leader is elected. The Biden-Harris administration’s appeasement of Maduro has clearly failed and must end now. We cannot waste this opportunity to advance our fight for democracy in Venezuela. This is a significant moment in the Venezuelan people's struggle for freedom and true representative government. I will continue working alongside freedom-loving Venezuelans to restore democracy in their country.”

Since first announcing his opposition to what he termed as a failed agreement between the Biden-Harris administration and Maduro, Senator Scott has consistently pressured the White House to defend freedom and democracy in Venezuela.

Below are some actions taken by Senator Scott:

- Sen. Rick Scott: Reported Biden-Maduro Deal Disastrous for Freedom & Democracy in Venezuela

- Sen. Rick Scott to POTUS: Recognize María Corina Machado, Don't Trust Maduro to Uphold His Election Agreement

- Sen. Rick Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio & Colleagues Introduce Reauthorization to Preserve Sanctions Against Maduro Regime

- Sen. Rick Scott Calls for Passage of Resolution Recognizing María Corina Machado as Venezuela’s Official Presidential Opposition Candidate

- Sen. Rick Scott Leads Rally in Support of Venezuelan Opposition Presidential Candidate María Corina Machado

- Sens. Rick Scott, Marco Rubio & Colleagues: The Time to Act on Venezuela is NOW

- Sen. Rick Scott, Marco Rubio & Colleagues to Biden: Designate Tren de Aragua as a Transnational Criminal Organization

- Sen. Rick Scott Demands President Biden Reimpose Sanctions Against the Maduro Regime

- As Biden Moves to Shut Down NPR-Alaska, Sens. Rick Scott, Dan Sullivan & Colleagues Warn Biden Not To Renew Oil Sanctions Relief For Venezuela’s Dictatorship

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