US recognizes opposition as electoral winners in Venezuela
Dictator Nicolás Maduro declares himself the winner of a chaotic election in Venezuela, but no detailed numbers have been released yet. Various countries doubt the official result. The US has gone a step further.
The US has recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of the disputed presidential election in Venezuela and increased pressure on the authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro. "Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia received the most votes in the presidential election on July 28 in Venezuela," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. It is now time for the parties in the South American country to engage in talks about a "peaceful transition."
After the election on Sunday, the pro-government electoral authority declared the socialist Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, the winner. However, it has not yet published the detailed results of the individual polling stations.
The opposition accuses the government of election fraud and claims victory for González. As evidence, it has published data that it says represents the results from more than 80 percent of the polling stations. According to these data, González received 67 percent of the votes and Maduro only 30 percent.
G7 foreign ministers demand detailed results
The G7 foreign ministers and several Latin American countries called on the electoral authority to publish the detailed results. The independent US organization Carter Center, which sent election observers to Venezuela, described the vote as undemocratic. Maduro requested an investigation of the election by the Supreme Court, which is considered pro-government. After demonstrations, Maduro said that 1200 "criminals" had been arrested so far, and another 1000 were being sought. He said that González and opposition leader María Corina Machado should be put in jail. According to independent organizations, at least 11 people have died.
Maduro's re-election in 2018 was not recognized by many countries. At that time, the then parliamentary president Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president. The US, Germany, and other countries recognized him, but he could not gain a foothold in the country, mainly because the military supported Maduro.
The G7 foreign ministers have similarly expressed concern over the lack of detailed results from the elections and urged for transparency. Many countries continue to doubt the legitimacy of Maduro's victory declared in the chaotic election.
