SWEETWATER, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott led Venezuelan community leaders for a rally, hosted by the Independent Venezuelan-American Citizens (IVAC), in support of opposition presidential candidate María Corina Machado and a future of freedom and democracy in Venezuela. During the rally, Senator Scott called María Corina Machado so that she could join the rally via phone as continues to campaign across Venezuela and faces threats of unjust, politically-motivated arrest from the corrupt and evil regime of dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Senator Rick Scott said, “More than two million Venezuelans around the world, including many of you here today, made your voices heard and elected María Corina Machado, as the official opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. This is a significant moment in the Venezuelan people’s fight for freedom and true representative government. We cannot waste this opportunity to advance our fight for democracy in Venezuela and I recently wrote to President Biden urging him to acknowledge this moment and immediately revise the conditions of sanctions relief that the administration has recently offered to the Maduro regime. Additionally, I introduced a resolution echoing these priorities on the Senate floor. Now is the time for American strength. Maduro and his thugs, who have horrifically murdered and oppressed the Venezuelan people for years, must understand that only the return of democracy to Venezuela through free and fair elections will result in sanctions relief from the United States. I will never stop fighting until we see a free and democratic Venezuela!”

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Following reports of the suspension of “all effects” of the Venezuelan primaries by Nicolás Maduro’s illegitimate Supreme Court after opposition candidate María Corina Machado’s successful primary, Senator Scott wrote a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to immediately revise the conditions of sanctions relief that the administration has recently offered to the Maduro regime and recognize the María Corina Machado as the legitimate opposition leader. Senator Scott is supporting Venezuelan opposition conditions to be met by the Maduro regime—and since they were not fulfilled, Senator Scott is urging President Biden to consider reimplementing severe sanctions. Read the full letter to the president HERE.

This week, Senator Scott also took to the Senate floor to introduce and request the immediate passage of his resolution recognizing María Corina Machado as Venezuela’s official Presidential Opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. Senator Scott is calling on the United States to stand with María Corina Machado and the brave people of Venezuela who have united behind her to rid Venezuela of the brutal oppression brought onto them by Nicolás Maduro, and finally bring freedom and democracy to their country. This resolution is cosponsored by Senator Marco Rubio and was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart. While Senate Democrats blocked its passage on the floor, Senator Scott did receive a commitment from the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to take up this resolution in his committee, a critical step toward securing a vote to approve it on the Senate floor. Watch the Senator’s speech HERE.

Additionally, today, Senator Rick Scott joined Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) in releasing a statement on the Maduro regime’s arrest warrants for members of an opposition party. Read more HERE.

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