Blinken’s announcement marks the most definitive stance taken by the U.S. since the disputed election…reports Asian Lite News
The United States formally recognised Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of the country’s contested presidential election, dismissing President Nicolas Maduro’s claim of victory.
In a statement issued on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that the evidence indicated Gonzalez secured the most votes in the July 28 election, contrary to the official results proclaimed by Venezuela’s electoral council, which declared Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote.
Blinken’s announcement marks the most definitive stance taken by the U.S. since the disputed election, congratulating Gonzalez for a “successful campaign” and signalling U.S. recognition of his victory.
The Venezuelan opposition, supported by independent polling and their tally of approximately 90% of the votes, maintains that Gonzalez received more than double the support of the incumbent president, contradicting the government’s official count.
The opposition has published detailed voting tallies on a public website, while the government has provided no detailed breakdown beyond the overall vote totals.
The U.S. stopped short of immediately imposing new sanctions on Venezuela, but Blinken hinted at potential “punitive action” if democratic norms are not respected. He emphasised the U.S.’s commitment to supporting the restoration of democratic practices in Venezuela, suggesting that Washington may collaborate with international partners to reinforce these efforts.
Additionally, Blinken called for the protection of opposition leaders, cautioning against the use of law enforcement and security forces as tools of political violence against citizens exercising their democratic rights.
In light of the electoral dispute, the presidents of Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia also called for the release of detailed voting tallies to clarify the election results, underscoring regional concerns over the integrity of the electoral process in Venezuela.
Earlier, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro submitted an appeal to the Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice to audit and certify the results of presidential elections amid calls for greater transparency.
Maduro asked the highest court to summon the pertinent institutions “to compare all the elements of evidence and certify, by carrying out an expert opinion of the highest technical level, the electoral results of July 28”, Xinhua news agency reported.
He went to the Supreme Court accompanied by First Lady Cilia Flores, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, Attorney General Reinaldo Munoz and Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil, among other members of his cabinet.
In remarks to the press upon leaving the court, Maduro said: “I have told the Electoral Chamber that I am willing to be summoned, interrogated … investigated by the Electoral Chamber as the winning presidential candidate of Sunday’s elections and as head of state; I am showing up, I am submitting to justice.”
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