Venezuela Opposition Leader Machado Urges US to Take Stronger Action on Election Dispute, Reports Reuters

By Julia Symmes Cobb and Vivian Sequera

BOGOTA/CARACAS – Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado stated on Thursday that she expects the United States to take more substantial action against President Nicolas Maduro amid ongoing controversies surrounding the presidential election held in July.

International democracies have criticized the Venezuelan government’s management of the July 28 vote, which officials and the country’s highest court claimed had been won by Maduro, who has held power since 2013. However, full electoral results have not been disclosed, with authorities attributing this to a cyber attack.

In contrast, the opposition has released ballot box-level results that suggest a significant victory for their coalition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez. Election monitors, including the Carter Center and a United Nations panel of experts, have deemed the electoral process unfair.

The United States had previously compiled a list of around 60 Venezuelan government officials and their family members who might face sanctions and visa restrictions, but no actions have been taken yet. U.S. officials are currently refining this list to potentially include members of Venezuela’s electoral council, senior judges, lawmakers, and key military and intelligence personnel, though the timing of any targeted actions remains uncertain.

Venezuelan officials, including Maduro and many in his close circle, as well as the country’s vital oil sector, are already subject to extensive sanctions imposed by both the U.S. and the European Union.

"I firmly believe the United States should do much more, and I have communicated this clearly to them and other nations," Machado stated during an online press briefing. She emphasized the existence of international mechanisms to hold accountable those who violate human rights.

A spokesperson for the State Department mentioned that various options are being evaluated to indicate to Maduro and his representatives that their misgovernance will have consequences, although they did not provide any updates on immediate actions.

The White House has not responded to inquiries regarding Machado’s comments.

Machado further noted that an end to the Maduro administration would be beneficial for international investors and creditors, estimating Venezuela’s debt to be between $60 billion and $150 billion.

"It is in the best interest of companies, as well as Venezuela’s creditors, to push for a swift transition and to withdraw support from the regime," she added.

In 2022, the Treasury Department granted U.S. oil producer Chevron a license to increase oil production in Venezuela and restart crude exports to the United States. Since then, several European companies have also received authorizations from the U.S. to expand their operations involving the state oil enterprise, PDVSA.

At least two dozen individuals have reportedly died in protests following the election, and several prominent opposition figures have been incarcerated. Maduro’s administration refers to the opposition as a fascist faction allied with foreign imperialist forces and attributes the protest-related deaths to them, while opponents and human rights groups accuse the government of systematic repression.

Brazil and Colombia, whose leadership has typically maintained a more cordial relationship with Maduro, expressed deep concern this week regarding an arrest warrant issued for Gonzalez. This development follows remarks by Venezuelan officials suggesting that Gonzalez, Machado, and other opposition members should be imprisoned.

Brazilian foreign policy advisor Celso Amorim labeled this situation as "an authoritarian escalation," and the Colombian foreign minister indicated that the leaders of Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico might confer with Maduro to convey their stance, though that call has not yet occurred.

Gonzalez’s attorney, Jose Vicente Haro, recently met with Attorney General Tarek Saab to submit a statement explaining why they believe Gonzalez did not break any laws and why he missed previous summons related to the opposition’s vote tally website. Saab responded that the document was "inappropriate" and affirmed that the warrant for Gonzalez remains active.

Haro pointed out that Saab’s statements indicate that Gonzalez lacks fundamental constitutional protections. "The attorney general has essentially convicted him, going beyond simply attributing alleged crimes," Haro stated. "He aims to place him in a situation of deprivation of liberty … to then deny him his rights."

Under Venezuelan law, individuals over the age of 70 cannot serve jail sentences and must instead remain under house arrest.

In response to questions about a U.S. sailor held in Venezuela, Saab indicated that the sailor held a Mexican passport and entered the country without appropriate documentation or justification.