Some 18 congressmen from the Democratic Party asked the president of the United States, Joe Biden, to lift sanctions once morest the government of Nicolás Maduro.
In a document shared by the legislators they point out: “President Nicolás Maduro seems to be committed to restarting negotiations with the opposition forces. This new approach to Venezuela is already yielding tangible results, and we should see its results.”
And they add: “We urge you to continue seeking dialogue with the government of Venezuela. And, in support of that processto consider lifting the economic sanctions that have achieved little success and widespread suffering for the Venezuelan population.
US congressmen ask to lift sanctions
Another of the points they touch on is the crisis facing the country. In addition to what they consider the failure of then President Donald Trump with his guidelines that increased the problems.
“Nicolás Maduro and his allies bear a lot of responsibility for the humanitarian and political crisis in Venezuela. But the policies of the Trump administration not only failed to improve the country’s situation, they exacerbated it,” the statement said.
It adds: “Military coup attempts, threats of armed intervention, the termination of relations with Maduro and his allies, and the imposition of extensive sanctions have only deepened the political crisis in Venezuela. As well as strengthened the Maduro government. Undermining the credibility of USA and leaving the day-to-day costs to the Venezuelan population.”
Opposition figures
The document also points to the fact that “key figures in the Venezuelan opposition also spoke out once morest US sanctions.” “In a recent interview, presidential candidate Henrique Capriles acknowledged the failure of sanctions”.
“In view of this, we urge that the United States lift all financial and sectoral sanctions that have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. Without that implying delaying urgent actions to transition the US economy away from fossil fuels. The relaxation of sanctions might mark a critical step in favor of the diplomacy process that his administration has initiated. And it might contribute to the resolution of the political crisis and help the well-being of the people of Venezuela,” the statement concludes.
The congressmen who approved and signed the document are Raúl Grijalva, Jesús «Chuy» García, Jan Schakowsky, Juan Vargas, Ayanna Presley, Ilhan Omar, James McGovern, Jared Huffman and Eleanor Holmes Norton. As well as Pramila Jayapal, Earl Blumenauer, Henrk “Hank” Johnson, Donald Payne Jr., Rashida Tlaib, Andy Levin, Jamaal Bowman, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
18 progressive Democrats in Congress in letter to @POTUS urge the Biden administration to lift all sanctions on Venezuela that “exacerbate the humanitarian situation.” pic.twitter.com/oOafUaaAJO
— Joshua Goodman (@APjoshgoodman) May 12, 2022