US Recognizes Edmundo González as Winner of Disputed Venezuelan Election

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has extended congratulations to Edmundo González for “receiving the most votes” in Venezuela’s recent election. This acknowledgment comes as more nations rally to recognize the opposition candidate as the victor of the contested poll.

International Recognition and Concerns

In a phone call on Friday, Blinken conversed with González and opposition leader María Corina Machado, expressing his concerns for their safety and well-being, as per the state department’s statement. On Thursday, Blinken had officially recognized González as the winner of the previous Sunday’s election, citing “overwhelming evidence” supporting this claim.

Electoral Authority’s Disputed Results

Venezuela’s electoral authority, often criticized for its bias towards the ruling socialists, declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner on Monday, reporting he received 51% of the votes compared to González’s 46%. The head of the CNE electoral body reaffirmed these results on Friday, asserting that 97% of the votes had been counted. Despite widespread calls for transparency from the opposition and various international bodies, the CNE has not released detailed vote tallies. The CNE’s website has been down since Monday, which authorities attributed to a hack, though no evidence was provided.

Opposition’s Claims and Support

The opposition contends that their comprehensive tally indicates González likely secured 67% of the vote, winning by a margin of nearly 4 million votes and garnering more than double Maduro’s support. On Friday, countries including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Uruguay, and Argentina joined the US in recognizing González’s victory. Argentina’s foreign minister, Diana Mondino, declared González “the legitimate winner and president-elect.”

However, nations such as Russia, China, and Cuba have extended their congratulations to Maduro. A diplomatic source informed Reuters that Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico are urging Maduro to engage in talks with González.

Mixed Reactions and Criticisms

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador criticized the US stance as “an excess,” accusing Blinken of “overstepping his boundaries.” Celso Amorim, the primary foreign policy adviser for Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, expressed doubts about the opposition’s vote tallies, labeling them as “informal data” derived from “quick count mechanisms, exit polls.” Amorim emphasized that Brazil does not seek to meddle in Venezuela’s internal affairs but aims to promote “social peace for Venezuela.”

Norway’s top diplomat, Espen Barth Eide, noted “legitimate doubts” regarding the election’s conduct. In a statement on Friday, he urged Venezuelan authorities to “comply with the agreed commitments and to respect the will of the Venezuelan people.”

Maduro’s Government Response

The Maduro administration has dismissed foreign critiques as interference, with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil accusing Washington of orchestrating a coup attempt. On social media, González expressed gratitude to the US for “recognizing the will of the Venezuelan people.”

Ongoing Unrest

Venezuela, once a prosperous nation in Latin America, has endured a prolonged economic crisis and significant population exodus over the past decade, coinciding with Maduro’s presidency. Maduro attributes the country’s challenges to US sanctions.

Anti-Maduro protests have erupted this week, with additional opposition marches anticipated on Saturday, which González and Machado are expected to attend. Human Rights Watch reports that at least 20 people have died in post-election protests, with approximately 1,200 arrests linked to the demonstrations, according to the government.