The United States insisted on democratic transition in Venezuela and called Nicolás Maduro a dictator

The US State Department said on Monday it supports the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people. The White House has said its main goal is to support a peaceful and democratic transition in the Caribbean country through presidential and parliamentary elections.

“We know that at the root of much of the misery and suffering of the Venezuelan people, there is an individual and we have been very clear that Nicolás Maduro is a dictator; its actions are not in the best interest of the Venezuelan people. It was not just the United States that said it: it was the United States and many of our closest partners, both in the region and elsewhere, ”said the spokesperson for the department. Ned Price State.

On the other hand, United States President Joe Biden will grant the approximately 320,000 Venezuelans in his country immigration protection Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which will allow them to work and live. reside legally, in a step that According to the interim president Juan Guaidó, he recognizes the dignity of his compatriots.

Two Biden government officials made the announcement during a call with reporters in which they clarified that the measure would be valid for 18 months, although it could be extended., and which only Venezuelans who are already in the United States to date, on March 8, 2021, will be able to benefit.

The measure will officially come into effect on Tuesday, when it is published in the Federal Register, the official government journal in which laws, regulations and public notices are published.

In the United States Congress, consensus between Democrats and Republicans grew on the need to grant the TPS to Venezuelans, and during the election campaign Biden promised that one of his first actions in the White House would be to grant this immigration permit.

Before stepping down from power, his predecessor, Donald Trump, suspended the deportation of Venezuelan illegal immigrants for a period of 18 months and also granted them temporary work permits.

Trump passed this measure under a permit called a delayed forced departure (DED), which U.S. presidents have used throughout history for foreign policy reasons, such as putting pressure on a certain country.. In principle, TPS lacks such political connotations.

The DED will remain in effect and Venezuelans can apply for either of the two permits, according to the aforementioned officials.

After several months with the divided Venezuelan opposition, Despite Guaidó’s insistence on the need for unity to achieve political change in the country, the solution to the disagreements, at least momentary, came at the hand of the Biden administration with the concession of TPS for Venezuelans..

Guaidó thanked the President and Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, respectively, for his government’s decision, which will give a break to the thousands of Venezuelans who live in the North American nation and who will be able to regularize their situation.

“I thank the government of the United States and in particular President Biden and Vice President Harris for this important step which recognizes the dignity and humanity of all Venezuelans.Says a declaration signed by Guaidó, recognized as interim president of Venezuela by some countries, including the United States.

Opposition and former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, who, although far removed from Guaidó’s proposals, today joined the same camp and said the US government’s decision “is a support and an example for others of commitment to the Venezuelan cause. “.

“Thank you, and may God always bless our Venezuelan brothersCapriles added.

And also María Corina Machado, founder of the Vente Venezuela political movement and openly opposed to Guaidó’s proposals, praised the initiative of Biden’s executive and the “benefit” it represents for the beneficiaries.

“The decision of the United States government to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans living in this country is something that makes us happy, and especially because it is a cause that enjoys bipartisan support.He said, also on his Twitter account.

He recalled that “there are more than 300,000 Venezuelans who can benefit from it; They are hardworking, talented and entrepreneurial people who can also create jobs in this country. It is the same logic that is added to the decision adopted by President (Iván) Duque (President of Colombia) ”.

For its part, the government chaired by Nicolás Maduro has not yet commented on the American decision.

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