WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor about yet another election stolen by the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela. Maduro claimed victory despite exit polling showing a massive advantage for the opposition party.
“For twenty-five years the Venezuelan people have suffered. They have endured the Chavez/Maduro despotic regime. Regimes that stole their money, ruined the country’s infrastructure, destroyed public services, tortured their politicians, and tried to destabilize the whole region. But Venezuela’s freedom-loving citizens keep on fighting,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Yesterday, again, they went out to vote for freedom led by Maria Corina Machado—the opposition leader who was herself barred from running—and Edmundo Gonzalez the opposition’s candidate. The result was an overwhelming win for the opposition and for democracy. Multiple exit polls and quick counts show the opposition winning by more than 30 percent.”
The world knows what happened at the ballot box over the weekend. But do we have the courage to come together, stand against Maduro, and tell him “Not this time! I sure hope so,” concluded Dr. Cassidy. “I stand here today saying so. Not this time. Hasta el final!”
Cassidy’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
Madam President,
For twenty-five years the Venezuelan people have suffered. They have endured the Chavez/Maduro despotic regime. Regimes that stole their money, ruined the country’s infrastructure, destroyed public services, tortured their politicians, and tried to destabilize the whole region.
But Venezuela’s freedom-loving citizens keep on fighting.
Yesterday, again, they went out to vote for freedom led by Maria Corina Machado—the opposition leader who was herself barred from running—and Edmundo Gonzalez the opposition’s candidate.
The result was an overwhelming win for the opposition and for democracy. Multiple exit polls and quick counts show the opposition winning by more than 30 percent.
Edmundo Gonzalez won with the largest landslide in Venezuelan history! This landslide win comes despite the regime’s efforts that barred the vast majority of the 8 million Venezuelan exiles from voting.
The real electoral results were so bad that the regime simply stopped counting votes and just made up a number.
Venezuelans obviously want change. The regime doesn’t. They are desperately holding on to whatever power they can grab.
This is a critical moment for our hemisphere.
Do we have another 25 years of tyranny and repression just three hours from America?
Do we allow the Russians, the Chinese Communist Party, and the drug cartels to use Venezuela as ground zero planning harm to the U.S. and allies in the hemisphere?
Do we allow Venezuela’s collapse to continue to flood the U.S. with refugees?
We need to change course.
It starts by recognizing President-Elect Edmundo Gonzalez. It starts with an international coalition to ensure the political transition that the Venezuelans already began at the polling booth.
The world knows what happened at the ballot box over the weekend.
But do we have the courage to come together, stand against Maduro, and tell him “Not this time! I sure hope so.
I stand here today saying so. Not this time. Hasta el final!
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