Ensuring Venezuela's Constitutional Order and Safety of Elected Officials - Press Statement Robert Palladino Washington, DC January 12, 2019

We stand with the Venezuelan people, and we praise the fierce commitment to democratic principles of the elected members of the Venezuelan National Assembly. We commend the courage of the National Assembly’s leadership, particularly its president, Juan Guaido, and his decision to invoke the authorities of the Venezuelan Constitution.

We call on all Venezuelans to uphold and respect the role of the National Assembly, as established in the Venezuelan Constitution of 1999, and, in particular, for the security forces and the armed forces to respect all protections the constitution affords to Guaido and the other members of the National Assembly, especially their safety and welfare.

The people of Venezuela deserve to live in freedom in a democratic society governed by the rule of law. It is time to begin the orderly transition to a new government. We support the National Assembly’s call for all Venezuelans to work together, peacefully, to restore constitutional government and build a better future.

The United States government will continue to use the full weight of U.S. economic and diplomatic power to press for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela.

Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public AffairsBureau of Public AffairsBureau of Public Affairs: Office of Press RelationsPress ReleasesPress Releases: 2019 Press Releases: January 2019