The United States sanctioned Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday, July 31 after threatening to take action over the country’s National Constituent Assembly elections a day earlier.
BREAKING: US sanctions Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pic.twitter.com/rWvuVYY1w6
— Grasswire (@Grasswire) July 31, 2017
In a press release, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said:
“Yesterday’s illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people. By sanctioning Maduro, the United States makes clear our opposition to the policies of his regime and our support for the people of Venezuela who seek to return their country to a full and prosperous democracy.”
He further warned that anyone who participates in the assembly, also known by its Spanish acronym ANC, could be subject to US sanctions.
The measures were imposed under an executive order that authorizes sanctions against current or former Venezuelan officials accused of undermining democracy in the country.
On July 26, the United States sanctioned 13 government officials within Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
On June 17, President Donald Trump said the U.S. would take “strong and swift economic actions” if Maduro moves ahead with plans to rewrite the country’s constitution.
