Wasserman Schultz, Díaz-Balart Lead Bipartisan Effort to Denounce Maduro’s Election Fraud, Press for Peaceful Transition of Power

Washington, August 2, 2024
Venezuelans courageously took to the ballot box to seek true, legitimate representation after a lost decade under Maduro. And despite enormous barriers and personal risk, overwhelming majorities across the nation repudiated Maduro and chose democracy. Yet this brutal narco-regime refuses to face reality, despite clear evidence proving Maduro’s loss. The violent repression of protestors’ demands for democracy must end and a peaceful transfer of power must begin. The Biden-Harris Administration successfully forced Maduro to hold this election. Now we must bring pressure to bear on Maduro and his cronies to respect the will of the Venezuelan people, or face the consequences.

Washington DC – Today, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), co-chairs of Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, filed a bipartisan House resolution to make clear that the United States Congress is “standing in solidarity with the Venezuelan people and condemning Nicolás Maduro’s attempt to steal the Venezuelan Presidential election.” 

The resolution recognizes Edmundo González as the rightful president-elect of Venezuela, denounces Maduro’s election fraud and violent repression of democracy protesters, and calls for new U.S. sanctions and international pressure to push Maduro to accept the will of the Venezuelan people and allow a peaceful transition of power.

They were joined by 28 bipartisan colleagues, including Reps. Frederica Wilson, Michael McCaul, Darren Soto, Carlos Gimenez, Kathy Castor, Michael Waltz, Jared Moskowitz, Maria Salazar, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Brian Mast, Lois Frankel, Chris Smith, Sylvia Garcia, Alex Mooney, Dina Titus, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Jim Costa, Bill Huizenga, Daniel Goldman, Guy Reschenthaler, Ruben Gallego, Brad Schneider, Vicente Gonzalez, Gerry Connolly, Andy Kim, Juan Vargas, Kathy Manning, and Norma Torres.

“Venezuelans courageously took to the ballot box to seek true, legitimate representation after a lost decade under Maduro,” said Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. “And despite enormous barriers and personal risk, overwhelming majorities across the nation repudiated Maduro and chose democracy. Yet this brutal narco-regime refuses to face reality, despite clear evidence proving Maduro’s loss. The violent repression of protestors’ demands for democracy must end and a peaceful transfer of power must begin. The Biden-Harris Administration successfully forced Maduro to hold this election. Now we must bring pressure to bear on Maduro and his cronies to respect the will of the Venezuelan people, or face the consequences.”

“Despite the grip of totalitarian rule, the people of Venezuela refuse to let democracy die. Now more than ever, the United States must strengthen measures against the dangerous, anti-American Maduro regime, which is closely allied to every U.S. adversary working against our national security interests,” said Congressman Díaz-Balart. “Instead, the United States must stand in solidarity with the brave Venezuelan people who are struggling for democracy and freedom from Maduro’s brutal tyranny. The regime has been murdering and imprisoning pro-democracy protesters, yet the opposition stands strong. This is not only a pivotal moment for Venezuela, but also for those across our hemisphere and around the world who are struggling for basic human rights under repressive regimes — regimes that are aided by the Maduro dictatorship.”

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

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