Calls for Swift Elections in Venezuela
A representative from the Miami area, which has a large Venezuelan refugee community, has expressed the urgent need for new elections in Venezuela, a country struggling under its current regime. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a Republican from Florida, emphasized that the situation cannot continue for years. “This is what these administrations do,” he stated. “They weaken your will through negotiations that only delay action. So we’re saying, it needs to happen in months, not years.”
Gimenez, the only Cuban-born member of Congress, has firsthand experience with fleeing a communist regime. He came to Miami’s Little Havana as a child after escaping the government in Cuba. Recently, he was among the first lawmakers to engage with Secretary of State Marco Rubio following heightened tensions and actions against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores.
Maduro has since been brought to the U.S. for trial on terrorism charges in New York. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has declared that the U.S. will take control of Venezuela until fair elections can be organized. Gimenez stresses the importance of seeing progress in this regard soon. “I can’t predict exact timelines, but we’re definitely looking at months, not years,” he reassured. “And it’s crucial for people in Venezuela to understand that change is coming swiftly. Those in the diaspora need to grasp that as well.”
He pointed out that there are millions of Venezuelans abroad eager to return to their homeland. “The sooner we start moving towards democracy and freedom, the better it will be for everyone,” Gimenez noted. As a supporter of Maria Colina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader, he also remarked on the strained relationship with Trump, indicating that while they share some views, Machado could potentially succeed in a free election.
“The president has a point when he says that the opposition lacks the current security apparatus to maintain order. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the way things are right now. Still, I genuinely believe that if given the chance, she would prevail,” he stated.
Despite his optimism about Machado’s potential, Gimenez acknowledged that a future democratic Venezuela will likely still include Maduro’s supporters, known as “Chavistas.” “Yes, you’ll probably have around 30% Chavistas,” he predicted. “But we must make sure they don’t exert control over everything, especially the election processes. We can’t allow the mistakes of the past to repeat themselves.”
