U.S. works to create conditions for free elections in Venezuela, says Rubio

The United States is actively working to establish the necessary conditions for free and democratic elections in Venezuela, stated U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He emphasized that democratic elections are not only the right path but also essential for attracting the investment Venezuela needs to recover.

“

In the end, the answer for Venezuela is democratic, free and fair elections, because it is not only the right thing to do, but it is necessary to attract the kind of investment that the country needs.

Rubio outlined key prerequisites for holding credible elections, including the establishment of free media, the ability for political parties to participate freely, and the formation of a new electoral council to ensure the process's legitimacy. He noted that cooperation is underway with the interim authority, with some aspects being discussed privately and yielding positive results.

Rubio described Venezuela's current trajectory as positive, although he acknowledged it has not yet reached the desired state for its people. He stressed the importance of continued progress. The statement comes amidst ongoing efforts to stabilize the country following years of political and economic turmoil.

“

All that work is underway. There are multiple areas of cooperation with the interim authority, some of which are not discussed publicly and have been very positive.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate residing in the U.S., announced her intention to return to Venezuela soon and seek the presidency in what she hopes will be clean and free elections. The U.S. has been working to foster dialogue and support democratic transitions in the region.

“

Venezuela is not today what we expect it to be for the Venezuelan people, but it is on a trajectory that I consider very positive; it is not continuous and must continue to advance.