Venezuela: Bolivarian Armed Forces reject US reward for Maduro’s capture

The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) of Venezuela rejected this Saturday the rewards from the United States for information that leads to the capture of the leader of Chavismo, Nicolas Maduroand the head of Defense of the Caribbean country, Vladimir Padrino Lópezof 25 million and 15 million dollars, respectively.

In a statement, the military institution expressed that a “spurious reward will not make a dent in the physical and spiritual strength of both recognized leaders,” who will remain “firm as the oak and upright as the saman, to continue leading the nation correctly.”

Also read: “Nicaraguaization” of Venezuela? Laws and constitutional reform to shield Maduro

In that sense, the FANB stated that this “aggression only further strengthens the cohesion and absolute union in the demand for respect” for its “leaders and hierarchical superiors.”

“This new onslaught of screams in the darkness of the imperial puppets is part of the neo-fascist and coup plans that the Venezuelan extreme right has been carrying out to alter the peace and stability of the country, attempting, through extortionate and irrational sanctions, to subject us and bow to foreign interests,” he added in the statement, signed by the operational strategic commander, Domingo Hernández Lárez.

He United States Government The reward for Maduro increased on Friday from 15 to 25 million, after he was sworn in as president for a third consecutive six-year term in power, in a controversial takeover rejected by the largest anti-Chavista coalition – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – , which denounced the consummation of a “coup d’état”, by reiterating that the winner of the July elections was Edmundo González Urrutia.

Also read: Former President Iván Duque believes that international intervention in Venezuela would avoid a humanitarian crisis

The opposition leader, who claims his victory, said this Friday that, as “commander in chief” and “president-elect”, he orders “the military high command to ignore illegal orders given to them by those who confiscate power and to prepare their conditions of security to assume the position”.

In addition to Maduro and Padrino López, the United States also offers a reward of $25 million for information that leads to the capture of the Minister of the Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello.

US Department of State

The United States does not recognize Maduro

The United States announced this Friday that it does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as president of Venezuela and claimed that the opponent Edmundo González Urrutiawhom he considers the winner of the elections, is sworn in as the new president.

This was declared by the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, after Maduro was sworn in for a new term before the National Assembly, controlled by Chavismo, amid accusations of a “coup d’état” by the opposition.

“Today, Nicolás Maduro held an illegitimate presidential inauguration ceremony in Venezuela in a desperate attempt to seize power,” the head of US diplomacy said in a statement.

Also read: Venezuela’s economic deterioration in the last 26 years: falling inflation and unemployment

Blinken stressed that “Maduro clearly lost the 2024 presidential election and has no right to claim the presidency.”

For this reason, he added, the United States “does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as president of Venezuela” and rejects the “fraudulent announcement” of the National Electoral Council (CNE) that the Chavista leader won the July 28 elections.

AFP

“President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia must be sworn in and the democratic transition must begin. We are willing to support the return to democracy in Venezuela,” he claimed.

The CNE, controlled by Chavismo, proclaimed Maduro’s victory in the presidential elections on July 28 and he was sworn in today in Parliament despite the fact that the opposition claims to have the minutes with the results that would give a resounding victory for González Urrutia.

Also read: The challenges of Nicolás Maduro when assuming a third presidential term to stay in power

According to data provided by Blinken, the United States has, to date, prohibited the entry into the country of nearly 2,000 people related to Maduro and has imposed economic sanctions on 187 people linked to the Chavista leader.

At the same time, the Biden Government announced this Friday the extension for 18 months of the temporary protected status (TPS) program, an immigration relief for Venezuelans who are in the country, due to the “serious humanitarian emergency” that Venezuela is suffering.

“The United States reaffirms its support for the peaceful democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people. The voices of Venezuelans must be heard and their votes respected,” Blinken insisted.