Key facts
- Venezuela's electoral infrastructure must be replaced before a valid election can be held, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Rubio stated the current electoral system was designed to rig elections.
- A new supreme judicial tribunal is expected in Venezuela by the end of the year.
- A new electoral council is expected shortly after the tribunal is in place.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that Venezuela's electoral infrastructure was designed to rig elections and must be replaced before a valid vote can occur. Rubio's comments came a day after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado returned to Venezuela. A senior US State Department official indicated that the US expects a new supreme judicial tribunal to be established by the end of the year, with a new electoral council to follow. Rubio expressed optimism about the progress of these reforms, warning against any attempts to derail the process.