The United States recognized on Thursday (1st) opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of the contested presidential election in Venezuela, rejecting Nicolás Maduro’s claim of victory.
“Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, more importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the majority of votes in the Venezuelan presidential election on July 28,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The dispute over the presidential election results has sparked protests in Venezuela. The Venezuelan electoral council proclaimed Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, the winner of the July 28 election with 51% of the votes.
However, the country’s opposition claims that its count of about 90% of the votes shows that Gonzalez received more than double the support of the sitting president, in line with independent polls conducted before the election.
The opposition released detailed counts on a public website, while the government has so far not shared any information beyond a national total of votes for each candidate.
Blinken’s statement did not include new sanctions against Venezuela, but he suggested a possible “punitive action.”
In response to Washington’s stance, the Venezuelan president stated that “the United States should keep its nose out of Venezuela, because the sovereign people are the ones who govern in Venezuela, who set the tone, who decide,” according to Telesur, the country’s state media.
Brazil Thinks US Made a Mistake
The US position differs from that of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, which on Thursday (1st) issued a joint statement calling for Venezuelan authorities to present disaggregated election data, without asserting that either candidate won the vote from last Sunday (28).
The Itamaraty believes that the United States made a mistake by recognizing Edmundo González Urrutia as the elected president of Venezuela.
According to diplomats, the US does not yet have sufficient data to guarantee the opposition’s victory over Nicolás Maduro, as the official electoral records have not been delivered. Furthermore, such a declaration would only inflame tensions and complicate negotiations.
South Florida Prepares for Influx of Venezuelan Migrants Amid Election Crisis
Venezuelans have taken to the streets in recent days to protest the election results, a reality that some analysts say could worsen the country’s crisis and lead more people to leave.
More than 40% of Venezuelans surveyed in recent months said they would consider emigrating if Maduro remained in power. Advocates are discussing the possibility of a Venezuelan exodus to Florida.
Sources: Reuters, Axios, and Uol