Rubio says Venezuela will need ‘fair, democratic elections’

BASSETERRE: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Venezuela will need free elections after the US toppling of leader Nicolas Maduro, although he did not suggest a timeframe.

Rubio, addressing a Caribbean summit in Saint Kitts and Nevis, said he believed that Venezuela was heading to its next phase that should include elections.

“We believe strongly…that ultimately, in order for them to take the next step to truly develop that country and to truly benefit from that country’s riches for the benefit of their people, they will need the legitimacy of democratic – fair, democratic – elections,” Rubio said.

“But our initial priority in the aftermath of Maduro’s capture was to ensure that there wasn’t instability, that there wasn’t mass migration, that there wasn’t spillover violence, and we believe we have achieved that,” he said.

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The United States once championed Venezuela’s democratic opposition but since removing Maduro on January 3 it has worked with interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who was Maduro’s deputy.

President Donald Trump has voiced satisfaction with Rodriguez, including her welcome to US oil companies, and threatened her with violence if she does not do his bidding.

Rubio, acknowledging misgivings by some Caribbean leaders, pointed to progress in Venezuela including the release of political prisoners.

“I will tell you this, and I will tell you this without any apology or without any apprehension: Venezuela is better off today than it was eight weeks ago,” Rubio said.

“The progress being made there is substantial, and there’s a long ways to go.”