U.S Recognizes Opposition Candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as Winner in Venezuela’s Disputed Election
On Thursday, the United States officially recognized Edmundo Gonzalez, the rival candidate to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as the victor in Venezuela’s contentious presidential election, dismissing Maduro’s claims of winning.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “With the overwhelming evidence available, it is evident to both the United States and, more crucially, the Venezuelan populace that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia secured the most votes in the July 28 presidential election,” in his Thursday announcement.
The U.S. announcement only extended congratulations for a “successful campaign,” representing the closest acknowledgment of Gonzalez as Venezuela’s new leader since the disputed election on Sunday.
The contention over the election results has led to protests within Venezuela. The country’s electoral council declared Maduro, who has held power since 2013, as the victor of the July 28 election with 51% of the vote.
However, the opposition claims that their tally of around 90% of the votes indicates Gonzalez received more than twice the support of the current president, aligning with independent pre-election polls.
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The opposition has published detailed vote counts on a public platform, whereas the government has only provided a national total of votes for each candidate without further specifics.
While Blinken’s statement on Thursday did not explicitly mention new sanctions on Venezuela, he suggested the possibility of “punitive action.” Reuters reported on Tuesday that the U.S. was contemplating additional sanctions following the disputed election.
“We fully support efforts to restore democratic norms in Venezuela and are prepared to explore ways to enhance this process in collaboration with our international partners,” Blinken stated.
Blinken also called for the protection and safety of opposition leaders.
“Law enforcement and security forces must not be used as tools of political violence against citizens exercising their democratic rights,” he emphasized.
On Thursday, the presidents of Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia called for Venezuela to release detailed vote counts amidst the ongoing dispute over the election results.
U.S Recognizes Opposition Candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as Winner in Venezuela’s Disputed Election
