In a significant escalation of the Venezuelan electoral crisis, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has officially recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of the July 28 presidential election. This declaration directly contradicts the results announced by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, which had declared incumbent President Nicolás Maduro the victor with 51% of the vote.Blinken stated, ‘Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, more importantly, to the Venezuelan people, that Edmundo González Urrutia won the majority of votes in the Venezuelan presidential election on July 28’. The opposition, led by González and María Corina Machado, claims to have evidence from over 80% of voting districts showing González won with approximately 67-70% of the vote.The US recognition has intensified international pressure on the Maduro government. Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico have issued a joint statement urging Venezuelan electoral authorities to ‘move quickly and publicly release’ detailed voting data. The G7 foreign ministers have echoed this call for transparency.The disputed election results have sparked widespread protests across Venezuela, leading to a violent crackdown. According to human rights organizations, at least 11 people have died, and over 1,200 have been arrested. Maduro has accused the US and foreign media of inciting a ‘civil war’ and has called for the arrest of opposition leaders, including González and Machado.In response to the growing crisis, Maduro has requested an investigation by the Supreme Court, which is widely seen as pro-government. Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado has reportedly gone into hiding, fearing for her safety.The US is now calling for the parties in Venezuela to engage in ‘peaceful transition’ talks. However, the effectiveness of this call remains uncertain as tensions continue to escalate in the country.
Key points
- The US has officially recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of the Venezuelan presidential election, contradicting the official results.
- The opposition claims to have evidence showing González won with 67-70% of the vote, while the National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner with 51%.
- Widespread protests have erupted, resulting in at least 11 deaths and over 1,200 arrests.
- International pressure is mounting on the Maduro government to release detailed voting data and ensure transparency in the electoral process.
Contradictions👾While the US and opposition claim González won the election, the Venezuelan National Electoral Council has declared Maduro the winner.
👾Maduro accuses the US of inciting civil war, while the US calls for peaceful transition talks.
