Venezuela faces 'difficult road ahead,' Florida lawmakers say

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(The Center Square) - The capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro drew praise from congressional Republican lawmakers in Florida, which has a significant Venezuelan population. But they also acknowledged the path forward remains unclear. 

At a Monday press conference in south Florida, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Carlos Giménez said it will take time and effort to transition Venezuela into a democratic government. And they expressed support for its new leadership to include María Corina Machado, the exiled opposition leader who put together a winning presidential bid in 2024 but has not won over President Donald Trump. 

Trump, who has said the U.S. will “run” Venezuela for now, accepted Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s vice president, as its interim leader. She was sworn in on Monday and reiterated her support for Maduro, who appeared in a Manhattan courtroom to plead not guilty to drug trafficking and other federal charges. 

Giménez predicted “a difficult road ahead,” pointing to "a need to safeguard a number of political prisoners" who remain in Venezuela, the process of establishing "free and fair elections" and working with a regime still controlled by Maduro allies. 

“It’s probably easier to arrest Nicolas Maduro than it is to convert Venezuela into the democracy that we want. But I have no doubt that the day of a free and democratic Venezuela is close at hand,” he said. “What we have to do now is make sure that we have a transition. That the current regime that’s there that’s still holding onto power understands that their days are numbered. Their days are numbered just like Maduro’s days were numbered.”

Scott and Giménez, who shared the stage with Florida’s junior senator Ashley Moody and allies of Machado, broke with Trump’s assertion that Machado lacks the “respect” needed to govern the country. 

Scott said he believes Machado “will be part of the leadership.” 

“She is well respected among Venezuelans,” he said. 

He named “Cuba, Nicaragua, Columbia” as countries that should be targeted next.  

“The fight is not over. This is the beginning of freedom and liberty all across Latin America,” Scott said.