Former President Iván Duque calls for free elections and rule of law in Venezuela

Former Colombian President Iván Duque has strongly asserted that Venezuela's path to recovery lies solely in establishing the rule of law, attracting investment, and holding free elections. During his participation in the Milken Institute Global Conference, Duque unequivocally stated that "without democracy, there is no recovery possible." He placed the blame for Venezuela's profound social, economic, and institutional collapse squarely on the administrations of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. The staggering figure of over seven million Venezuelans forced to flee their country in search of safety and opportunity serves as a stark testament to the devastation wrought by these regimes, Duque argued.

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Venezuela solo puede salir adelante "con Estado de derecho, inversión y elecciones libres", además agregó que "sin democracia, no hay recuperación posible".

Duque reiterated his call for justice against Nicolás Maduro, whom he described as the "starting point" of Venezuela's crisis. He highlighted his own actions as president and senator, including denouncing Maduro before the International Criminal Court. For Duque, accountability is a crucial first step toward any meaningful resolution for the Venezuelan people.

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Venezuela fue destruida social, económica e institucionalmente por los regímenes de Chávez y Maduro. El hecho de que más de siete millones de personas abandonaran el país en búsqueda de oportunidades intentando conseguir refugio seguro para sus familia demostró la magnitud de esa destrucción.

Furthermore, the former Colombian leader emphasized that rebuilding Venezuela must begin with economic reconstruction. He suggested that the United States has learned valuable lessons from past interventions in other parts of the world, implying a more cautious and perhaps more effective approach to supporting Venezuela's potential recovery. Duque's remarks underscore a regional perspective that views the Venezuelan crisis not just as a humanitarian catastrophe but as a direct consequence of authoritarian rule and a problem that requires a democratic solution.

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Eliminar a Nicolás Maduro fue el punto de partida de todo esto, llevarlo ante la justicia. Lo denuncié ante la Corte Penal Internacional cuando fui presidente y cuando fui senador.