The United States on Monday (08/12/2024) refused to offer Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro an amnesty to leave power following the annulment of his re-election in July 28 elections, results questioned by the opposition and part of the international community.
Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the State Department, denied in a press conference the newspaper The Wall Street Journal, which had published that Joe Biden’s administration would offer amnesty to persuade Maduro to leave before his term ends in January.
When asked about the matter, Patel said, “This is not true. We did not offer any amnesty to Maduro or anyone else after the election.”
Washington calls for “transition talks”
However, he added that the United States is “considering a range of options to pressure Maduro to return Venezuela to the path of democracy,” and claimed it is time for Chavismo and the opposition “to begin negotiations for a peaceful transition”.
The Wall Street Journal cited three anonymous sources as saying the United States had offered amnesties to Maduro and senior Chavismo officials facing Justice Department charges in a bid to persuade them to step down.
The newspaper reminded that in 2020 the United States, along with its allies, offered a reward of 15 million dollars for information leading to the arrest of Maduro, accused of drug trafficking.
Maduro himself said last Friday that the United States was willing to give him “anything” to give up power, but demanded that Washington leave Venezuela “in peace.”
Maduro’s victory in the July 28 elections was declared by the National Electoral Council (CNE) without publishing voting records, and according to minutes obtained by the majority opposition bloc, which the Biden administration believes the winner was rival Edmundo González Urrutia.
In another press conference on Monday, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre rejected talk that Washington had begun offering amnesties after Venezuela’s elections and insisted Maduro must recognize the results.
“It’s been two weeks since the elections. It’s very clear to the majority of Venezuelans, the United States and a growing number of countries that Edmundo received the most votes (…) and Maduro must recognize that,” he said.
Chavista representatives would “regulate” social networks
Meanwhile, the Chavismo-controlled parliament announced it would boost the regulation of social networks through a reform of a law against hate, which is often used to accuse opponents, legislative chief Jorge Rodriguez said on Monday. A reform of a law against hate, which is often used to accuse opponents, legislative chief Jorge Rodriguez said on Monday.
“We are going to approve a package of laws that you have requested to protect and defend our population from hatred, expressions of social hatred, terrorism and the dissemination of fascist ideas and hateful ideas on social networks,” the official said during an event addressed to Maduro.
Maduro assured that the network was being used to attack his re-election, denounced as fraudulent by the opposition, which claims the victory of its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia.
“There are a number of non-governmental organizations that are at the forefront of financing terrorist activities,” Rodriguez said.