S.Res. 486 – Reading Mode

III

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 486

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 5, 2023

Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

RESOLUTION

Commending María Corina Machado as Venezuela’s legitimate presidential opposition candidate.

Whereas, on October 26, 2023, María Corina Machado was declared the winner of the primary election that was held by the National Primary Commission of Venezuela;

Whereas the primary election drew more than 2,400,000 voters in Venezuela and abroad;

Whereas the intent of the National Primary Commission was to choose a candidate to oppose the illegitimate Nicolás Maduro regime in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election;

Whereas the National Primary Commission successfully organized and carried out the primary election despite obstacles, threats, and attacks by the illegitimate Maduro regime;

Whereas María Corina Machado deserves the recognition of the United States and all democratic states as Venezuela’s duly chosen presidential opposition candidate;

Whereas the Biden administration should rally the international community to recognize María Corina Machado as the legitimate leader of the Venezuelan opposition in furtherance of the administration’s stated goal of supporting free and fair elections in Venezuela, and Venezuela's return to democratic governance;

Whereas the United States Government should not recognize the results of the general elections in Venezuela unless María Corina Machado is officially allowed to run as the legitimate presidential candidate of the opposition in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election without repression, the election is free, fair, transparent, and internationally supervised, and all political prisoners are released unconditionally;

Whereas the United States and all democratic states must stand with the people of Venezuela in their quest to restore civil, political, and human rights;

Whereas, because the illegitimate Maduro regime has forced millions of Venezuelans into exile and potential disenfranchisement, the United States and the international community must support the Venezuelan diaspora’s voice and its right to be recognized in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election; and

Whereas, on October 30, 2023, the illegitimate supreme court of Nicolás Maduro declared the suspension of all effects of the Venezuelan primary election, thereby negating the deal between the Maduro regime and the opposition that was facilitated by the United States Government: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate—

(1)

commends María Corina Machado as Venezuela's official presidential opposition candidate;

(2)

condemns efforts by the illegitimate Maduro regime to prevent María Corina Machado from participating in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election;

(3)

rejects the illegitimate Maduro regime’s efforts to carry out fraudulent presidential elections, including barring the participation of the opposition candidate chosen by the Venezuelan voters;

(4)

demands that the illegitimate Maduro regime permit reputable election observers, such as the Organization of American States, the European Union, the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and other credible organizations;

(5)

calls for the immediate, unconditional release of all political prisoners in Venezuela;

(6)

denounces efforts by the illegitimate Maduro regime to persecute its political opponents, such as members of the National Primary Commission;

(7)

condemns efforts by the illegitimate supreme court of Venezuela to invalidate the primary election held by the National Primary Commission; and

(8)

urges the President to strengthen and reimpose sanctions because the negotiated conditions have not been met.