Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor condemning what he described as another fraudulent election by the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela. Despite exit polling indicating a significant advantage for the opposition party, Maduro claimed victory.

“For twenty-five years the Venezuelan people have suffered. They have endured the Chavez/Maduro despotic regime. Regimes that stole their money, ruined the country’s infrastructure, destroyed public services, tortured their politicians, and tried to destabilize the whole region. But Venezuela’s freedom-loving citizens keep on fighting,” said Dr. Cassidy.

Cassidy highlighted that Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader barred from running, and Edmundo Gonzalez, the opposition candidate, led efforts for democratic change. According to multiple exit polls and quick counts cited by Cassidy, the opposition won by more than 30 percent.

“The world knows what happened at the ballot box over the weekend. But do we have the courage to come together, stand against Maduro, and tell him ‘Not this time! I sure hope so,” concluded Dr. Cassidy.

Cassidy's prepared remarks emphasized:

"For twenty-five years the Venezuelan people have suffered under regimes that stole their money and ruined infrastructure," he reiterated.

He pointed out that despite attempts to suppress votes from millions of exiled Venezuelans, Edmundo Gonzalez achieved what he called "the largest landslide in Venezuelan history."

"The real electoral results were so bad that the regime simply stopped counting votes and just made up a number," he asserted.

Cassidy stressed this moment as critical for regional stability: "Do we allow Russians, Chinese Communist Party members, and drug cartels to use Venezuela as ground zero planning harm to the U.S.? Do we allow Venezuela’s collapse to continue flooding the U.S. with refugees? We need to change course."

He called for recognizing President-Elect Edmundo Gonzalez and forming an international coalition to ensure political transition in Venezuela: "The world knows what happened at the ballot box over the weekend... Not this time."

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