Former US ambassador William Brownfield has warned that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will not allow fair elections or comply with agreements that remove him from power. Brownfield, who also served as ambassador to Colombia, voiced his concerns in an interview with lapatilla.com.
According to Brownfield, the Maduro government only considers three options in the upcoming elections. He stated, “That the opposition choose another candidate whom (Maduro) can beat, allow the elections but to steal them as it has done in the past, or cancel the electoral process in its entirety.”
Brownfield urged for the reimposition of sanctions, which he believes have been excessively postponed, and called for pressure from the international community for a democratic solution in Venezuela. He also advocated for unrestricted support for the nomination of opposition leader María Corina Machado and support for the diaspora.
The former diplomat rated the Barbados agreement, which aimed to resolve the Venezuelan crisis, with a “C” for relying on unfulfilled promises. He concluded that Maduro is evading the transition and the only alternative is to increase international pressure.
Brownfield’s warnings come at a crucial time as Venezuela faces ongoing political turmoil and international scrutiny over the legitimacy of upcoming elections. His insights and calls for action are likely to reignite the debate on how the international community should respond to the Venezuelan crisis.