The White House on Wednesday sanctioned 21 senior officials aligned with Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro for “myriad abuses” following the widely disputed claims that Maduro won reelection this year, according to a senior official.
Why it matters: It’s the latest effort to put pressure on Maduro since the July 28 elections that prompted mass protests and a violent crackdown on demonstrators. The opposition has shown evidence that its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, overwhelmingly won the election.
State of play: The announcement Wednesday comes as the Maduro regime pursues criminal charges against members of the opposition. González is in exile in Spain due to concerns for his safety.
- The U.S. has sanctioned a total 180 Venezuelan officials and 100 entities.
What they’re saying: The administration “will continue to use our tools to hold Maduro and his cronies accountable and support the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people,” a senior administration official said during a press call Wednesday.
Flashback: In October 2023, the U.S. eased oil and gas sanctions on Venezuela after its leaders promised to hold free and fair elections.
- But even before the elections, Maduro’s allies were harassing the opposition and barred its leader, María Corina Machado, from running even though she had overwhelmingly won the primaries.
- Machado was replaced by González, a former diplomat.
- Maduro claimed victory after the summer elections and the nation’s electoral commission, stacked with his allies, certified his victory.
- The U.S. this April let those oil sanctions waivers expire.
Between the lines: The Biden administration last week began calling González “president-elect” of Venezuela, an oil-rich country where hyperinflation and political repression have forced nearly 8 million people to flee.
- Though the U.S. had previously said González was the rightful winner, calling him “president-elect” marked a significant step in its overt support for the opposition.
