President Donald Trump has indicated that after his administration’s ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, U.S. control of the country could drag on for years. But Venezuela hawks within his party are pushing for elections much sooner.
The “real solution” for Venezuela must include elections and a return to normalcy “as soon as possible,” Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.) said in an interview, echoing similar statements from his fellow Florida Republican Rep. Carlos Giménez earlier in the week. Gimenez told CNN on Thursday that he wasn’t necessarily aligned with Trump’s timeline and that a transition should happen “in terms of months, not years.”
A delay, they warn, risks further entrenching what they describe as an illegitimate authoritarian regime in Caracas.
While the most vocal advocates for a faster timeline are Republican hawks from Florida who represent large Venezuelan immigrant communities, the concern isn’t limited to them.
‘As soon as possible’: GOP hawks want faster timeline for elections in Venezuela – POLITICO