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Nicolás Maduro’s Golden Parachute
U.S. authorities have offered Venezuela’s embattled President Maduro a pardon and sanctuary in exchange for his resignation. Will he accept?
“In secret talks, US offers pardon to Venezuela’s Maduro in return for stepping down,” reported First Post over the weekend.
According to three unnamed sources familiar with the matter, the Biden administration has “put everything on the table” in a bid to see Maduro removed from office and prevent further bloodshed in Venezuela.
While this news may seem startling, it’s not entirely surprising.
“According to the sources, so far, the talks have been conducted virtually between Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s congress and a Maduro confidant, and Daniel P. Erikson, who is responsible for America’s policy towards Venezuela at the White House National Security Council,” First Post relayed. “The officials also revealed that it wouldn’t force Western oil companies to leave Venezuela as well.”
“However, it is pertinent to note that this is not the first time the US has pursued such an initiative to take Maduro down,” the outlet added. “Washington had made an amnesty offer to Maduro during secret talks in Doha last year. But the Venezuelan president declined to discuss any such arrangements which would mean that he had to leave office.”