He US Senator Rick Scott considers that Venezuela must move towards a democratic transition with a defined calendar and elections within a maximum period of nine months. In interview with The National, Scott stated that Washington must push the process forward “as quickly as possible” and He maintained that the electoral call cannot be allowed to continue to be postponed.
In this sense, he pointed out Supreme Court of Justice as one of the elements that must be reformed and reconstituted to guarantee respect for the law and move towards free and fair elections, although Washington is not aware of any progress in this regard.
The Republican insisted that the first step must be to establish a date for the elections and work towards that goal. In his opinion, the process must guarantee that there is no “oppression, intimidation, or persecution” and that Venezuelans can freely choose their representatives.
Scott also referred to the role of María Corina Machado: he assured that the opposition leader is prepared to return to Venezuela peacefully and participate in the political process. As he reported, the Nobel Peace Prize winner would be willing to talk with Delcy Rodríguez with the aim of moving towards a transition without violence and elections in which all candidates have the possibility of competing.
The senator also ruled out that Venezuela is going to become the 51st state of the United States, as President Donald Trump has said in recent months, and defended that the country must maintain its status as a sovereign nation and have the opportunity to elect its own leaders.. “The security of Venezuela would also represent the security of the United States,” he stated.
—You said, after speaking with María Corina Machado, that you are prepared to return to Venezuela “in a peaceful and constructive manner” and that you are willing to engage in dialogue even with Delcy Rodríguez. Is there already a proposal in Washington to facilitate his return and a possible meeting between the two?
—For the Trump administration it is important that Machado be able to travel back and live at home, organize and participate in all opportunities in Venezuela. I don’t know if there is a plan for her to return, but after speaking with her last week, I know that she is willing to sit down and talk with Delcy and Jorge Rodríguez to help in the process for democracy. Of course, ensuring that there is no violence and that a new presidential election is held. I hope there is a date soon for that.
—You have said that Delcy Rodríguez is not the legitimate president of Venezuela and you have described her as the “leader of a cartel.” How do you reconcile that position with the possibility that Machado negotiates directly with her?
—Delcy Rodríguez is not the legitimate president of Venezuela. She is a leader of drug cartels and is a friend of Nicolás Maduro. She is not a friend of Venezuelans. And, for me, the most important thing is that all Venezuelans, all the press and radio are free, and that there is peace in Venezuela. That’s why I think it’s very important for María to return, because I think she’s the key.
—Although for you Delcy Rodríguez is not a friend of the United States, is she complying with Washington’s plan?
—Delcy is not a friend. She is not our friend. She is not a friend of the people of Venezuela. She is not a friend of the United States. She is a friend of Nicolás Maduro, Petro and other dictators. He is a terrible person. He is the one who has been responsible for arresting innocent people and has not released all political prisoners, as he said. If he was cooperating, all political prisoners would be released. If he was cooperating, there would be no repression. If he was cooperating, there wouldn’t be people in prison. We would already have a date for the elections.
—President Donald Trump has said that he is “considering” Venezuela becoming the 51st state of the United States and many are wondering about this, given Washington’s tutelage over the country. How do you interpret that idea?
—I was in Venezuela before Chávez. It is a beautiful country, with wonderful people. It is a sovereign nation and its citizens must have the opportunity to live in democracy and freely elect their own leaders. Therefore, It is not feasible for Venezuela to be part of the United States and become a state. I don’t think they are going to be a state. They are a sovereign nation and need to have the opportunity to elect their own leaders. I am very grateful to President Trump because we would not be in this situation if Maduro was not in prison. So I thank you very much. Now, we must advance the democratic process as quickly as possible.
—Is this possibility really being discussed in Washington?
—Oh no. No one has asked me about that, actually.
—President Donald Trump recently said that Venezuela could hold elections, but that the country is still “very raw” and that it would be “too soon.” What is your opinion on this?
—The important thing now is to establish a date for the elections. We have to set a date and, from there, rebuild the institutions, including the Supreme Court. We have to set a date and work towards it. I am a businessman: you work to achieve a goal. So let’s set a date, which should be as soon as possible, and work to meet it.
—You have also spoken about the Supreme Court of Justice, which is a very important problem in Venezuela. He has said that institutional restoration should begin with this court. What should be happening right now with the court?
—Institutions have to be rebuilt with people who really want to respect the law, and it’s not like Delcy Rodríguez can do whatever she wants. There has still been no progress regarding people who have suffered torture or problems related to prisons. I know it’s in talks but nothing has happened yet. And, look, we can’t be too patient. That’s how I see life. If you are too patient, nothing happens. We have to push to get these things done.
Now, regarding the restoration of democracy and what will happen to the victims, to the people who have suffered during the dictatorship, I believe that the process should be like this: first, all political prisoners must be released and then elections must come, with a new president and a new National Assembly. The people of Venezuela will decide what happens next. It will not be the United States who decides.
—Do you think that Venezuelan democracy can “mature” while waiting, or do you think that elections should be called as soon as possible precisely to give structure and certainty to the transition?
—Precisely, I believe that it has to be done as quickly as possible, when there is certainty that there will be no oppression, intimidation or persecution. So, whatever that date is, we have to do it as quickly as possible to start the process. Historically, dictators, people like Delcy Rodríguez, try to postpone everything. They always say, “Tomorrow, and then tomorrow, and then tomorrow.” We cannot allow that to continue happening.
—Do you think Rodríguez could win an election?
—No. I don’t think I could win an election. I mean, I don’t live in Venezuela, but I don’t know any Venezuelan who says, “Oh, I’m going to vote for Delcy Rodríguez.” They know who it is. She is a dictator.
—What should be the maximum deadline for that date?
—I think we clearly have to announce a date soon. And it can’t be in two years. It clearly has to be within the next nine months.
—What do you think will happen on Venezuela’s borders with Brazil and Colombia, especially in the areas where gold mining activity is concentrated? It is a complex situation, with territories practically under the control of criminals and drug traffickers. Does the United States have operatives there?
—What we hope is that there is no violence, that there is peace and that that belongs to the people of Venezuela. To do this, there must be laws that are enforced and guarantee that cartels do not control these territories. I think the hope is that the people of Venezuela, their police and their military are able to take care of the situation, along with the people of Colombia. We have a new president in Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, who I think wants to do things well. We hope that too.
So peace, freedom and independence are good for the citizens of those countries, but they are also good for the United States. They make our country safer and create greater opportunities. Everyone wins, except the bad guys.
