Rubio says Venezuela must replace its electoral system 'quickly' and says 'no one's going to wait us out'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday 26 October that Venezuela must replace its election infrastructure before any valid presidential vote, in a call with reporters, Anadolu Agency, Axios and AP reported.

“That infrastructure has to be replaced in order for these elections to be valid,” Rubio said. “Not in 10 years, not in five years, not in two years; it needs to happen quickly under the timelines that we’ve established.” He said the National Electoral Council and the Supreme Justice Tribunal had been “designed by the Maduro regime to rig elections”.

Asked whether the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez could delay the process until the Trump administration leaves office in January 2029, Rubio said: “That’s not going to happen… we have timelines that are agreed to, and so far they’ve met every one of the timelines.” He said Washington judged Rodríguez “not by rhetoric but by action”, citing the extradition of former Maduro ally Alex Saab.

“You’re not going to street-protest your way into a democracy,” Rubio also said, without naming anyone, Axios reported.

Machado’s return

Rubio said the US told the interim authorities “weeks and weeks ago” that opposition leader María Corina Machado “should be allowed to return unperturbed”, and that they replied she could fly in. Machado returned on Sunday. Without naming her, Rodríguez said on Monday that Machado should feel remorse for supporting what she called “external military-style aggression against Venezuela”, Axios reported.

State Department officials said no election date has been set, Axios reported. US forces seized Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on 3 January; he faces drug trafficking charges in New York.

See also: María Corina Machado returns to Venezuela after 10 months in exile.