US Recognizes Edmundo González as Winner of Venezuela's July 28 Presidential Election

Aug 2, 2024, 01:13 AM

The United States has officially recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of Venezuela's July 28 presidential election, rejecting President Nicolás Maduro's claims of victory. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols cited overwhelming evidence and verified voting receipts indicating González's victory by millions of votes. The Biden administration has called on Venezuelan authorities to release the vote tallies and urged the international community to acknowledge González's win. Diplomatic efforts are underway to ensure a peaceful transition of power, with Blinken emphasizing the need for discussions between Venezuelan parties. Maduro, however, continues to assert his victory and has suggested that his opponents should be jailed for decades.