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Today, in an article in the NY Times, the Venezuelan activist Roberto Patiño argued in favor of the lifting of sanctions against Venezuela’s dictator Francisco Maduro.
His argument is most persuasive.
There are presently sanctions against Maduro and associates from the US State Department, separate individual sanctions, additional bounties and an ongoing International Criminal Court investigation into crimes against humanity by the regime.
An electoral campaign is now in progress in Venezuela with a ballot day of July 28th.
Maria Corina Machado emerged as the opposition’s candidate but was barred from running. In her place, Edmundo Gonzalez, a former diplomat, has stepped up.
This is a clear political triumph for Venezuela because it has overcome differences and united behind a single candidate. It took a great deal of compromise and moxie.
And now polls are showing Mr Gonzalez with a 20% lead over Mr Maduro.
Mr Patiño’s argument is that if the Maduro regime is offered a way out they may agree to let the elections run their course and accept the results.
The US lifting its sanctions in exchange for Maduro recognizing an electoral defeat would help turn the country around.
Maduro and company would be shielded from prosecution.
Mr Patiño states that ‘this is the time to prioritize the greater good and for the interests of the people to take precedence over the politics of revenge.’ He is right.
He has invoked the…
