Venezuelan far-right politician María Corina Machado at a campaign rally. File photo.
The Venezuelan far-right politician María Corina Machado applauded the approval of the Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime Act (BOLIVAR Act) by the United States House of Representatives. The act aims to tighten the blockade against Venezuela.
Machado expressed her satisfaction with how this new US law could negatively affect the economic progress that Venezuela has made in recent months.
Machado thanked Florida Senator Rick Scott, the original sponsor of the bill, on a phone call with him.
“Now is the time to act. Until the end!” Machado wrote in a social media post celebrating the anti-Venezuela law.
The BOLIVAR Act expands the restrictions established in the National Defense Authorization Act 2020, a comprehensive sanctions regime imposed by the United States against Venezuela. Its main objectives are to strengthen the existing unilateral coercive measures against Venezuela and to freeze more Venezuelan assets.
Venezuela Condemns US Bill Seeking to Intensify Sanctions (+Bolivar Act)
The US House of Representatives has approved the bill, while its Senate approval is pending. However, various US media outlets have reported that the law would also be approved by the US Senate.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned Machado’s applause for this new US move to intensify the blockade against Venezuela.
At the Venezuela Oil Chamber Forum 2024, Rodríguez expressed that Machado’s celebration is “unacceptable and abominable.”
She added that such anti-Venezuela politicians must be condemned as they harm the country and its economy, affecting the Venezuelan people and all sectors.
“It is an attack against Venezuela and must be condemned,” Rodríguez said. “Anti-Venezuelan extremism must cease, and they must leave Venezuela in peace so that the productive sectors can expand their capacities and economic potential.”
(RedRadioVE) by Ana Perdigón
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/SF
