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The main Democratic legislators responsible for foreign policy in the United States Congress requested from Secretary of State Marco Rubio a detailed explanation regarding the Trump administration's strategy to ensure a real democratic transition in Venezuela.
In a letter dated June 8, Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern about the political developments in the South American country following the departure of Nicolás Maduro from power.
Congress members are questioning whether the current policy of Washington is promoting genuine democratic changes, or if, on the contrary, it is legitimizing and allowing figures linked to the old Chavista apparatus to continue controlling institutions under a new power structure.
According to the letter, four months after the onset of the relationship between the Trump administration and the government led by Delcy Rodríguez, there are still signs that raise doubts about the direction of the transition. Among them, they mention the persistence of high-ranking officials from the previous regime in key positions, the absence of an electoral calendar, and the existence of hundreds of political prisoners who remain incarcerated.
Lawmakers also expressed concern over various appointments made within the new government structure, including Larry Devoe as attorney general, Eglée González Lobato as ombudsman, and General Gustavo González López as minister of Defense. In their view, these appointments could represent a continuation of practices associated with the previous power system.
Another point highlighted is the lack of public progress in areas deemed essential for a democratic transition, such as the reform of electoral and judicial authorities, guarantees for the participation of the opposition, the updating of the voter registry—including Venezuelans abroad—and the release of all political prisoners.
In the document, Meeks and Shaheen requested written responses within 30 days regarding six specific issues, including the timeline for holding elections, the conditions that the United States is requiring for them to be considered credible, and the actions taken to prevent further tensions between Venezuela and Guyana.
The congress members emphasize that the economic stabilization of the country should not be used as a justification for former leaders of Chavismo to remain in power indefinitely without deep reforms.
"The departure of a dictator does not, by itself, constitute the restoration of democracy," assert the lawmakers, who urge the Trump administration to use its influence to promote the release of political prisoners, dismantle repressive structures, and ensure that Venezuelans can freely decide the future of their country through transparent and verifiable elections.
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