US Recognizes Edmundo Gonzalez as Winner of Venezuela’s Disputed Presidential Election
Opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia was met with a swarm of reporters as he arrived at his voting center in Caracas, with the US recognizing him as the rightful winner of Venezuela’s disputed presidential election.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the evidence clearly shows Gonzalez won the most votes, contradicting Maduro’s claim of victory. The US’s recognition of Gonzalez has not been seen since the contested election.
The dispute over the election results has led to protests in Venezuela, with the opposition claiming Gonzalez received double the support of the incumbent president. Despite the opposition releasing detailed tallies, the government has not shared any information beyond the national vote totals.
Blinken hinted at possible punitive actions against Venezuela, urging the protection of opposition leaders and citizens exercising their democratic rights. The presidents of Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia also called for detailed voting tallies to be released amid the dispute.
As tensions remain high in Venezuela, the international community watches closely to see how the situation unfolds.