The United States has acknowledged Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González as the winner of the country’s presidential election and called for a peaceful transfer of power from President Nicolás Maduro.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that “overwhelming evidence” from polling stations published by the opposition party made clear to the United States and the Venezuelan people that the country’s authoritarian leader won fewer votes than his democratic opponent.
“Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election,” Blinken said in a statement.
“We congratulate Edmundo González Urrutia on his successful campaign,” he added. “Now is the time for the Venezuelan parties to begin discussions on a respectful, peaceful transition in accordance with Venezuelan electoral law and the wishes of the Venezuelan people.”
On Monday, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner of a third six-year term, with 51 percent of the vote, “with no supporting evidence,” Blinken said, adding that the Electoral Council is controlled by Maduro.
The opposition party disputed the outcome, publishing tally sheets from voting stations around the country showing that González received the most votes, by what Blinken called an “insurmountable margin.”
María Corina Machado, the leader of the opposition party Vente Venezuela, held a press conference earlier this week to showcase proof that her party defeated Maduro’s ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela.
She said that the 73 percent of tallied votes accessible to the opposition showed Gonzalez had won a clear victory, securing more than twice as many votes as Maduro.
Blinken said these facts have been corroborated by independent observers and were supported by election day exit polls and quick counts, and U.S. partners have concluded that Maduro did not receive the most votes in the presidential election.
The United States and other countries called for transparency and opposition supporters took to the streets after the initial results were announced.
Street Protests
Thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets earlier this week, demanding the release of voting data. Clashes with police were reported, and around 11 people were killed, according to local rights group Foro Penal.
A statue of Hugo Chavez, who ushered in socialist rule when he was elected president in 1999, was torn down on Monday. Maduro took office when Chavez died in 2013. Maduro has been called a dictator by world leaders.
Jorge Rodríguez, a senior Maduro-aligned Venezuelan lawmaker and brother to Maduro’s vice president blamed González and Machado for the violence on the streets and called for their arrests.
Blinken said the allegations against opposition leaders were unsubstantiated and called the threats to arrest González and Machado an “undemocratic attempt to repress political participation and retain power.”
The United States called for all Venezuelans who were arrested “while peacefully exercising their right to participate in the electrical process” to be released immediately. Blinken said that law enforcement shouldn’t be used as an “instrument of political violence” against citizens exercising their democratic rights.
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