Washington, 25 July (H.S.): US President Donald Trump on Friday said Venezuela was not yet prepared to hold elections, while claiming that significant progress had been made in the country following the removal of former President Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Venezuela needed more time before conducting elections, adding that the process should be handled carefully to ensure the right outcome.
As far as the elections in Venezuela, they're not really ready for them yet, but boy, a lot of progress has been made, Trump said.
Trump also praised Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s deputy, saying she was “doing a fantastic job” in managing the country’s affairs.
We have to do it right. Elections take care of themselves, Trump added.
Instead of focusing immediately on elections, Trump highlighted Venezuela’s oil sector and economic recovery, saying the country had significant energy resources and that his administration’s efforts had helped revive economic activity.
I'm very popular in Venezuela because we're bringing tremendous economics back to the country, and they were absolutely dying, Trump said.
Trump’s remarks came more than seven months after a US military operation on January 3 that removed Nicolás Maduro and his wife from Venezuela. Maduro is expected to face trial in the United States next year.
The Trump administration has so far remained cautious about the timeline for elections in Venezuela. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier said that the country would need a free press and a new electoral authority before holding a credible election process.
Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, which resulted in Maduro retaining power, was disputed internationally. The United States, the European Union and several Latin American nations refused to recognise the outcome, citing concerns over transparency and fairness.
The future of Venezuela’s political transition remains uncertain, with Washington calling for institutional reforms before any nationwide election is conducted.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
