Bill Summary
This resolution recognizes Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the President-elect of Venezuela. It acknowledges that the 2024 Presidential election in Venezuela was not free or fair, and that the process lacked respect for fundamental freedoms. It also recognizes that the majority of polling centers showed that the leader of the opposition, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, won with an overwhelming number of votes. The resolution states that the Venezuelan people have demonstrated their desire for peace and political freedom through a democratically elected leader of their choosing. It also acknowledges the concerns and rejection of the election results by many international organizations and heads of state. The resolution asserts that the Senate recognizes the victory of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan people in their democratic aspirations.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation may limit the rights of Venezuelan citizens to freely choose their leader, as it recognizes Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the President-elect despite concerns about the fairness of the election.
2. The resolution could potentially lead to protests and demonstrations from those who do not recognize the legitimacy of the elected President, leading to potential political unrest and instability in Venezuela.
3. The legislation may also affect the relationship between Venezuela and other countries, as the Senate's recognition of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the legitimate President could lead to strained diplomatic relations with those countries that have rejected the election results.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 804 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 804
Recognizing Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the President-elect of
Venezuela.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 1, 2024
Mr. Rubio (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Kaine,
Mr. Cassidy, and Mr. Bennet) submitted the following resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the President-elect of
Venezuela.
Whereas, on July 28, 2024, Venezuela held Presidential elections, the first in
the country since the widely discredited Presidential election in 2018;
Whereas the elections were neither free nor fair, and the process lacked respect
for fundamental freedoms, with the Carter Center stating, ``Venezuela's
2024 presidential election did not meet international standards of
electoral integrity and cannot be considered democratic.'';
Whereas President Joe Biden has publicly stated the need for an immediate
release of full, transparent, and detailed voting data by Venezuelan
authorities;
Whereas the data released by the vast majority of polling centers showed that
the leader of the opposition, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, won with an
overwhelming number of votes;
Whereas the Venezuelan people have demonstrated their desire to live in peace
and political freedom, represented by a democratically elected President
of their choosing;
Whereas many international organizations and heads of state have voiced concern
with the lack of transparency throughout the electoral process; and
Whereas numerous countries have either called for transparency in the tally of
election results or have rejected the results outright based on clear
evidence of fraud, including Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Italy,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the victory of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia in
the Presidential election in Venezuela held on July 28, 2024;
(2) notes that such recognition is widely shared around the
world;
(3) asserts that the victory of Edmundo Gonzalez marks the
return of a democratically elected leader at the national level
in Venezuela; and
(4) stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan people in
their democratic aspirations to live freely without repression.
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