The United States has determined there is no substantiated evidence that Nicolás Maduro emerged as the legitimate victor in Venezuela’s most recent presidential election. The Biden administration is therefore acknowledging Edmundo González as the true election winner, as declared by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a recent announcement.
Critiquing the vote count conducted by the Maduro-aligned National Electoral Council (CNE) as significantly flawed, Blinken, at 62, has openly criticized the council’s declaration of Maduro winning the July 28 election with 51% of the vote. He described it as not reflecting the genuine desire of Venezuelan citizens, through a statement issued by the State Department.
Blinken highlighted the lack of transparency and evidence from the CNE in their quick announcement of Maduro’s victory, pointing out the absence of detailed vote data or any vote count sheets, despite international and local demands for such documentation. Contrarily, Blinken noted, “The democratic opposition has made public over 80 percent of the vote count sheets it directly obtained from polling stations nationwide. These documents firmly show that Edmundo González Urrutia secured the most votes by a substantial margin.”
The Secretary further shared that after discussions concerning Venezuela’s election outcome with worldwide allies and partners, no conclusion was reached supporting that Maduro won the majority of votes. “The vast amount of evidence unquestionably convinces both the United States and, crucially, the Venezuelan populace, that Edmundo González Urrutia is the rightful winner of the July 28 presidential election,” Blinken proclaimed.
Additionally, Blinken condemned the unfounded claims Maduro made against the opposition and his threats to arrest those opposing him. Emphasizing the need for a dignified and peaceful transition, Blinken congratulated González on his successful campaign.
Maduro, who has been at the helm of the Venezuelan presidency since 2013, having previously served as a bus driver and foreign minister, saw the recognition of his re-election in 2018 refused by the US under Trump’s administration, leading to sanctions over what was considered a rigged election. The Biden administration’s future actions regarding sanctions against Maduro’s government, if he refuses to relinquish power, remain uncertain.
