The United States has recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González as the winner of Venezuela’s recent presidential election, heightening the pressure on Venezuela’s electoral authority to justify its declaration of President Nicolás Maduro as the victor.
Following requests from various governments, including some of Maduro’s close allies, the U.S. announced its stance on Thursday, urging Venezuela’s National Electoral Council to release detailed vote counts, similar to past elections.
On Monday, the electoral body declared Maduro the winner, but the main opposition coalition presented evidence suggesting otherwise, including over two-thirds of the tally sheets from electronic voting machines.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, more importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election.”
Maduro responded dismissively, stating, “The United States needs to keep its nose out of Venezuela!”
Officials from Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico have been urging Maduro’s administration to release the vote tally sheets from the election for independent verification. A Brazilian government official, requesting anonymity, emphasized that transparency is essential to resolve doubts about the results.
A Mexican official confirmed ongoing discussions, with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador planning to speak with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
On Thursday, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico issued a joint statement calling for Venezuela’s electoral authorities to promptly release detailed voting data, though they did not confirm any secret diplomatic efforts to persuade Maduro’s government.
The National Electoral Council, aligned with Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela, has not yet released detailed results by voting machine, but reported Maduro received 5.1 million votes to González’s 4.4 million.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claims González received around 6.2 million votes compared to 2.7 million for Maduro.
Venezuela has experienced severe economic decline since Maduro assumed power in 2013, with plummeting oil prices, shortages, and hyperinflation driving mass emigration. Over 7.7 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014, marking the largest exodus in recent Latin American history.
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