Congressman Bill Huizenga says the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro marks a major turning point for the country, but he warns the most difficult phase — political transition — still lies ahead.
Huizenga tells us he was part of a briefing on Wednesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and learned all about the operation to remove Maduro from Venezuela, practically minute by minute. He says the next step should be the replacement of the current Venezuelan regime, noting opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez was the real winner of the country’s presidential election in 2024.
“He either should be declared president, in my mind, or there needs to be a timetable set very quickly for a new set of free and fair elections, this time actually free and fair in their conclusion,” Huizenga said.
Huizenga says he has no faith in the remaining Venezuelan government, so that transition will be necessary.
Huizenga says he also stressed to Rubio that sanctions are ineffective without action and sought assurance the oil being turned over to the U.S. will benefit the Venezuelan people.
“I was given an assurance, the whole group was given an assurance from Secretary Rubio that that is the intention and is the case, and that is the plan, and they are working through all of the details of that. So it was active and robust.”
Huizenga added there are currently no plans for a U.S. military presence in Venezuela, although a humanitarian and diplomatic presence may be needed. He said the arrest of Maduro was the right decision, but now comes the challenge of ensuring a peaceful transition of power to help the Venezuelan people.
