On December 6, 2020, the illegitimate Maduro regime staged fraudulent legislative elections in Venezuela. Sixty countries around the world either came together to issue joint statements, including those released by the European Union, the Organization of American States, the Lima Group, and the International Contact Group or issued their own statement, rejecting the sham elections. This fraudulently elected body has now occupied the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas. We consider this group to be illegitimate and will not recognize it nor its pronouncements.
The United States recognizes Interim President Juan Guaidó as the legitimate President of Venezuela. President Guaidó and the legitimate National Assembly were elected freely in 2015 by the people of Venezuela. On December 26, 2020, the National Assembly voted to reform its Transition Statute which, along with the Venezuelan constitution, provides an explicit legal basis for it to continue its constitutional role. The legitimate National Assembly also voted to establish a subsidiary Delegated Commission, under Articles 195 and 196 of the Venezuelan constitution. President Guaidó and the National Assembly are the only democratic representatives of the Venezuelan people as recognized by the international community, and they should be freed from Maduro’s harassment, threats, persecution, and other abuses.
We know that millions of Venezuelans seek a peaceful resolution to their country’s calamitous situation. We, therefore, call upon Venezuelan political parties and civil society, including students, religious organizations, Chavistas, military families, workers, and employers, to rally around the cause of a peaceful democratic transition through free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections. Interim President Guaidó, the National Assembly, and all democratic actors working towards democratic transition represent the aspirations of millions of Venezuelans for a brighter future.