Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

US recognizes Venezuela opposition candidate Edmundo González as presidential election winner – not Maduro

Maduro has launched crackdown against opposition following election

Josh Marcus
San Francisco
Friday 02 August 2024 14:00 EDT
Comments
Venezuela election result prompts 'serious concerns', says Antony Blinken

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The United States has recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González as the winner of the country’s recent presidential election, going against claims from long-time Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro that he won re-election.

“Electoral data overwhelmingly demonstrate the will of the Venezuelan people,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote in a statement on Thursday. “Venezuelans have voted, and their votes must count.”

“In the days since the election, we have consulted widely with partners and allies around the world, and while countries have taken different approaches in responding, none have concluded that Nicolás Maduro received the most votes this election,” according to a statement from the State Department.

The agency said Maduro’s claims to have won 51 percent of the vote lack “any credibility” because the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council refuses to release in-depth local election data, as the opposition has.

Fellow regional powers have called for transparency.

The US and other nations believe Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González is the rightful winner of the country’s recent presidential election, despite claims from incumbent Nicolás Maduro he won another term
The US and other nations believe Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González is the rightful winner of the country’s recent presidential election, despite claims from incumbent Nicolás Maduro he won another term (AP)

“The fundamental principle of popular sovereignty should be respected based on the impartial verification of the results,” the governments of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico wrote in a joint comminque on Thursday.

Maduro, the political successor to Venezuela’s leftist leader Hugo Chavez, has remained insistent that he won.

He has accused the other side of trying to launch a “counter-revolution” and labeled González and the popular opposition leader María Corina Machado as “perverse and macabre” terrorists.

His security forces have killed at least 17 people, and arrested more than 750, in protests that followed the election on Sunday, according to The New York Times.

President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro celebrates after winning the presidential election on at Miraflores Palace July 28, 2024 in Caracas, Venezuela
President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro celebrates after winning the presidential election on at Miraflores Palace July 28, 2024 in Caracas, Venezuela (Getty Images)

“I am writing this from hiding, fearing for my life, my freedom, and that of my fellow countrymen from the dictatorship led by Nicolás Maduro,” opposition leader Corina Machado, who won a presidential primary but was barred from running against Maduro, wrote in The Wall Street Journal.

“We Venezuelans have done our duty,” she added. “We have voted out Mr. Maduro. Now it is up to the international community to decide whether to tolerate a demonstrably illegitimate government.”

Maduro wrote on Thursday in Spanish on X that, If the government of the United States is disposed to respect sovereignty and stop threatening Venezuela, we will be able to restart dialogue.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in