III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 486 

Commending Marı ́a Corina Machado as Venezuela’s legitimate presidential 

opposition candidate. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 5, 2023 

Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself and Mr. RUBIO) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Commending Marı ́a Corina Machado as Venezuela’s 

legitimate presidential opposition candidate. 

Whereas, on October 26, 2023, Marı ́a Corina Machado was 

declared the winner of the primary election that was held 

by the National Primary Commission of Venezuela; 

Whereas the primary election drew more than 2,400,000 voters in Venezuela and abroad; 

Whereas the intent of the National Primary Commission was 

to choose a candidate to oppose the illegitimate Nicola ́s 

Maduro regime in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election; 

Whereas the National Primary Commission successfully organized and carried out the primary election despite obstacles, threats, and attacks by the illegitimate Maduro regime; 


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•SRES 486 IS 

Whereas Marı ́a Corina Machado deserves the recognition of 

the United States and all democratic states as Venezuela’s duly chosen presidential opposition candidate; 

Whereas the Biden administration should rally the international community to recognize Marı ́a Corina Machado 

as the legitimate leader of the Venezuelan opposition in 

furtherance of the administration’s stated goal of supporting free and fair elections in Venezuela, and Venezuela’s return to democratic governance; 

Whereas the United States Government should not recognize 

the results of the general elections in Venezuela unless 

Marı ́a Corina Machado is officially allowed to run as the 

legitimate presidential candidate of the opposition in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election without repression, the 

election is free, fair, transparent, and internationally supervised, and all political prisoners are released unconditionally; 

Whereas the United States and all democratic states must 

stand with the people of Venezuela in their quest to restore civil, political, and human rights; 

Whereas, because the illegitimate Maduro regime has forced 

millions of Venezuelans into exile and potential disenfranchisement, the United States and the international community must support the Venezuelan diaspora’s voice and 

its right to be recognized in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election; and 

Whereas, on October 30, 2023, the illegitimate supreme court 

of Nicola ́s Maduro declared the suspension of ‘‘all effects’’ of the Venezuelan primary election, thereby negating the deal between the Maduro regime and the opposiVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Dec 06, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR486.IS SR486

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•SRES 486 IS 

tion that was facilitated by the United States Government: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commends Marı ́a Corina Machado as Ven3 ezuela’s official presidential opposition candidate; 

4 (2) condemns efforts by the illegitimate Maduro 

5 regime to prevent Marı ́a Corina Machado from par6 ticipating in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election; 

7 (3) rejects the illegitimate Maduro regime’s ef8 forts to carry out fraudulent presidential elections, 

9 including barring the participation of the opposition 

10 candidate chosen by the Venezuelan voters; 

11 (4) demands that the illegitimate Maduro re12 gime permit reputable election observers, such as the 

13 Organization of American States, the European 

14 Union, the International Republican Institute, the 

15 National Democratic Institute, and other credible or16 ganizations; 

17 (5) calls for the immediate, unconditional re18 lease of all political prisoners in Venezuela; 

19 (6) denounces efforts by the illegitimate 

20 Maduro regime to persecute its political opponents, 

21 such as members of the National Primary Commis22 sion; 

23 (7) condemns efforts by the illegitimate su24 preme court of Venezuela to invalidate the primary 


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•SRES 486 IS 

1 election held by the National Primary Commission; 

2 and 

3 (8) urges the President to strengthen and reim4 pose sanctions because the negotiated conditions 

5 have not been met. 

Æ 


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