HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-19-0048City of Miami
Resolution R-19-0048
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 5411 Final Action Date: 1/24/2019
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION EXPRESSING FULL
SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE VENEZUELAN NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY, JUAN GUAIDO, WHO HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED
STATES AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD AS THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA AND JOINING THE
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND THE
"GRUPO DE LIMA" IN THEIR RECOGNITION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL
AUTHORITY OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE NON -RECOGNITION
OF THE NICOLAS MADURO REGIME; FURTHER EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY
WITH THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE AND CALLING FOR THE RE-
ESTABLISHMENT OF DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA; DIRECTING THE CITY
CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS
NAMED HEREIN.
SPONSOR(S): Mayor Francis X. Suarez, Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort,
Commissioner Ken Russell, Commissioner Joe Carollo, Commissioner Manolo
Reyes, Commissioner Keon Hardemon
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is the flagship city and leader of all thirty-four (34)
municipalities in Miami -Dade County in supporting human rights, freedom, and democracy
throughout the Americas and beyond; and
WHEREAS, on May 20, 2018, Venezuela held a presidential election in which just 25.8
percent of the Venezuelan electorate cast a vote; which failed to comply with international
standards; was carried out without the necessary guarantees for a free, fair, transparent, and
democratic process; and has been widely denounced as a sham; and
WHEREAS, Venezuelans are currently experiencing a worsening political, economic,
social, and humanitarian crisis resulting from the breakdown of democratic order and serious
human rights violations in that state due to the narco-dictatorship of Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, the United States, Canada, the European Union, the Organization of
American States, and at least fourteen (14) Latin American countries have all disputed or
characterized the election as illegitimate; and
WHEREAS, in its role as the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the
Venezuelan people, the Venezuelan National Assembly invoked the country's constitution to
declare Nicolas Maduro illegitimate and the office of the presidency vacant; and
WHEREAS, as a consequence, the United States and other nations have recognized the
President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the Interim President of
Venezuela; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 5411 (Revision: A) Printed On: 4/15/2025
File ID: 5411 Enactment Number: R-19-0048
WHEREAS, on January 10, 2019, the Permanent Council of the Organization of
American States ("OAS") agreed "to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro's new term
as of the 10th of January of 2019" and instead recognized the constitutional authority of the
democratically elected National Assembly; and
WHEREAS, the European Union ("EU"), in denouncing Nicolas Maduro's new term
declared that the May 20, 2018 presidential election was "neither free, nor fair," and stated that
Maduro was "starting a new mandate on the basis of non -democratic elections"; and
WHEREAS, the "Grupo de Lima," a multinational group with fourteen (14) member
states, was established on August 8, 2017 to collectively find a peaceful solution to the crisis in
Venezuela pronounced, among others, its condemnation of the breakdown of democracy in
Venezuela and recognized the constitutional authority of the National Assembly as well; and
WHEREAS, Venezuelans are being forced to flee the country because their basic needs
have not been met including the collapse of the health-care system that has led to a
reemergence of previously eradicated infectious diseases across the region; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is home to many Venezuelans that have fled their
beloved country because of the worsening political conditions in Venezuela and resulting
collapse of the economy; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to express its solidarity with the people of
Venezuela and wishes to join the OAS, the EU, and the "Grupo de Lima" in recognizing the
constitutional authority of the National Assembly; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission requests the Executive Director of the United States
Conference of Mayors to transmit a copy of this Resolution to all participating cities and urge the
member cities to support this Resolution;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission hereby expresses full support for the President of the
Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, who has been recognized by the United States
and other democratic countries throughout the world as the Interim President of Venezuela.
Section 3. The City Commission further expresses solidarity with the Venezuelan
people and calls for the re-establishment of democracy in Venezuela.
Section 4. The City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the
Secretary General of the OAS, the EU, the fourteen (14) member states of the "Grupo de Lima,"
the United States Department of State, and the United States Conference of Mayors.
City of Miami Page 2 of 3 File ID: 5411 (Revision: A) Printed on: 4/15/2025
File ID: 5411 Enactment Number: R-19-0048
Section 5. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption and
signature of the Mayor.'
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ndez, ity ttor ey ) 2/5/2019
1 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective
immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
City of Miami Page 3 of 3 File ID: 5411 (Revision: A) Printed on: 4/15/2025