Rubio warns Venezuela's Machado: Street protests won't get you democracy
A day after Venezuela's exiled opposition leader returned to Caracas with great fanfare, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a veiled warning against interfering with the country's fragile democratic transition pushed by the Trump administration. "You're not going to street-protest your way into a democracy," Rubio told reporters Monday without explicitly mentioning María Corina Machado .…
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned Venezuela's exiled opposition leader María Corina Machado on Monday against attempting to force democracy through street protests, stating that "you're not going to street-protest your way into a democracy." Machado's recent return to Caracas has raised concerns among administration officials, who fear her demands for elections in 2027 could undermine the Trump administration's progress in stabilizing the country.
Machado and U.S. officials both agree that Venezuela needs to hold elections, but they are divided on the timing and conditions. Rubio emphasized the importance of reforming Venezuela's Supreme Court, National Electoral Council, and debt situation before proceeding with elections. He emphasized the need to establish timelines and warned against any attempts to stall the process.
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