In brief
In a New York address, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Venezuela should hold elections ideally next year, although he did not assure they would precede the end of Donald Trump’s presidency. Rubio stressed Venezuela needs several key steps to create suitable conditions for a free and fair vote, a view echoed and at times contested by both U.S. President Trump and Venezuelan official Delcy Rodriguez. The statement comes amid ongoing debates over when and how Venezuela will conduct legitimate elections.
In New York on 20 January 2029, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that elections in Venezuela should take place next year, although he declined to guarantee they would occur before President Donald Trump’s term expired on 20 January 2029. The statement was reported by TASS, the Russian news agency.
Rubio said Venezuela still must take several critical steps to create the right conditions for elections. While he expressed optimism about a future vote, he emphasized that political and institutional preparations were necessary before the country could hold a free and fair election. The U.S. Secretary’s comments came as U.S. policy continues to pressure for democratic credentials in the Latin American country.
Trump himself, in early October, told Time magazine that it was too early to hold elections in Venezuela, a view that contrasts with Rubio’s hope for a 2023 vote. Trump’s quotation was reported by the same TASS outlet, illustrating a difference of emphasis between the two U.S. officials.
Venezuelan authorized president Delcy Rodriguez, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, stated that the country would hold a presidential election once its people deemed the time right, not on the instruction of foreign powers. That remark, also released by TASS, highlights the debate over external influence versus internal sovereignty in the Venezuelan electoral process.
The timing of Venezuelan elections has long been a point of contention for the United States and its allies, with the U.S. insisting that democratic standards be met and a reliable electoral mechanism established. Rubio’s call for a 2023 vote reflects the desire to bring the country back to a system of universal suffrage, but the lack of guarantees signals uncertainty about the feasibility of such a move before the U.S. presidential transition.
While the U.S. administration has set up a policy framework urging steps that would lead to fair elections, no formal commitment has been made to enforce a specific schedule. The emphasis remains on fostering an environment where Venezuelan citizens can vote freely and without fear, a condition that several international observers argue has not yet been achieved. The situation continues to evolve as diplomatic efforts proceed alongside internal political dynamics in Venezuela.