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The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, compared the political reconstruction process in Venezuela this Wednesday to the Spanish democratic transition after the death of dictator Francisco Franco, and noted that this model could serve as a guide for the South American country following the fall of Nicolás Maduro.
During a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio stated that “there are precedents that show a transition from an autocratic regime to a democracy is possible, although it requires time.”
In that regard, he mentioned the cases of Spain and Paraguay as historical examples of gradual reforms that restored power to civil institutions and to popular voting.
"There are precedents. I can mention several examples, like Spain or Paraguay, places where there was a transition from an autocratic regime to a democracy, and it took time," Rubio highlighted during the hearing.
The head of U.S. diplomacy acknowledged that he cannot set an exact timeline for the Venezuelan process, but he stated that “it cannot last forever.” He added that substantial progress toward political and economic normalization should be observed within a timeframe of three to six months.
"I will likely be able to provide a better response when we finally have people on the ground, like our ambassador," Rubio stated, referring to the upcoming formal reestablishment of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Caracas.
Rubio emphasized that, for the first time in over a decade, “there is a real possibility for change” in Venezuela. He pointed out that the dialogue with interim president Delcy Rodríguez must be accompanied by direct work with civil society and local authorities to ensure an inclusive and stable transition.
The Secretary of State reiterated the Trump administration's goal of building a "democratic, prosperous, and allied Venezuela," though he warned that Washington does not rule out additional pressure measures—including the use of force—if the interim government does not fully cooperate with the process.
The reference to Spain, regarded as one of the most successful transitions of the 20th century, aims to provide a framework of historical legitimacy to a Venezuelan transition that remains uncertain, marked by the legacy of Chavismo, Cuban influence, and the new conditions imposed by the United States.
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