President Donald Trump today tightened financial sanctions against Venezuela following what the US described as a "sham" election in the country.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro won re-election to another six-year term yesterday, despite widespread anger over the South American country's crushing economic and social crises. The vote was marred by low voter turnout, allegations of vote-rigging and an opposition boycott.
Trump in an executive order announced additional sanctions on Venezuela. These included prohibition on all transactions related to, provision of financing for, and other dealings in the following by a United States person or within the US.
It also prohibited the sale, transfer, assignment, or pledging as collateral by the Government of Venezuela of any equity interest in any entity in which the it has a 50 per cent or greater ownership interest.
"Venezuela's election was a sham neither free nor fair. The illegitimate result of this fake process is a further blow to the proud democratic tradition of Venezuela," US Vice President Mike Pence said in a strongly worded statement.
Noting that every day, thousands of Venezuelans flee brutal oppression and grinding poverty literally voting with their feet, Pence said the US will not sit idly by as Venezuela crumbles and the misery of their brave people continues.
"America stands against dictatorship and with the people of Venezuela. The Maduro regime must allow humanitarian aid into Venezuela and must allow its people to be heard, he said.
"The United States condemns the fraudulent election that took place in Venezuela on May 20. This so-called election is an attack on constitutional order and an affront to Venezuela's tradition of democracy," US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said.
Until the Maduro regime restores a democratic path in Venezuela through free, fair, and transparent elections, the government faces isolation from the international community, he said.
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