John Bolton: Delcy Rodríguez is as unreliable as the rest of Chavismo
Although the Trump administration recognized her as interim president of Venezuela, the experienced lawyer and Republican diplomat, John Bolton, does not hesitate to sentence that the government led by Delcy Rodríguez "remains illegitimate".
TL;DR
- John Bolton believes that regimes in Cuba and Nicaragua could also fall, but the White House should not settle for "half-measures like overthrowing Maduro but keeping his government in power."
- He considers the government led by Delcy Rodríguez to be illegitimate, despite past recognition by the Trump administration.
- Bolton criticizes the "superficial changes" made by the ruling elite, suggesting they are aimed at short-term survival and a return to authoritarianism.
- He emphasizes the need to empower those who won the 2024 presidential elections, stating foreign investors will not return to a country controlled by Chavistas.
- Bolton suggests he would be more impatient than Secretary Rubio and would have acted more quickly to change the regime.
- He believes it is a mistake for Washington to have urged opposition leaders like María Corina Machado and Edmundo González not to return to Venezuela.
- The continued presence of political prisoners indicates the US does not have control.
- Jorge and Delcy Rodríguez are seen as attempting to maintain power, lacking popular support and relying on control of oil finances.
- Bolton views Delcy Rodríguez as untrustworthy, similar to the rest of Chavismo, and believes she may have misled some within the Trump administration.
- He recalls the Trump administration's attempts to pressure the regime economically and acknowledges that more could have been done.
- Bolton mentions a failed plan in April 2019 to oust Maduro, which he supported despite doubts about its feasibility.
- He suggests Trump perceived Maduro as a strongman and did not view the opposition, including Machado and Guaidó, as sufficiently solid.
- Bolton expresses concern that the Democrats, like Trump, might be too tolerant of Delcy Rodríguez.
- He describes Gustavo Petro as a leftist with outdated ideology and hopes for a new Colombian president with whom Venezuelan democrats can collaborate.
- Bolton believes free elections have already occurred and the focus should be on installing the opposition, or holding new elections quickly if necessary, with exiled leaders returning.