US Recognizes Venezuelan Opposition Candidate as President-Elect

The U.S. government has recognized Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González as the “president-elect” of the South American country, months after President Nicolas Maduro claimed to have won the July contest.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recognized González in a post on X, in which he also demanded “respect for the will” of Venezuelan voters.

Background

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden had previously said González had earned the most votes in the disputed July 28 election but had fallen short of acknowledging him as president-elect.

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, had declared Maduro the election winner hours after polls closed. Unlike previous presidential elections, electoral authorities did not provide detailed vote counts.

Opposition Claims Victory

But the opposition coalition collected tally sheets from 80% of the nation’s electronic voting machines and posted them online. González and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said the voting records showed the former diplomat won the election with twice as many votes as Maduro.

Reaction

“We deeply appreciate the recognition of the sovereign will of all Venezuelans,” González said in a post on X shortly after Blinken’s statement Tuesday. “This gesture honors the desire for change of our people and the civic feat that we carried out together on July 28.”

International Reactions

Experts from the United Nations and the U.S.-based Carter Center, which observed the election at the invitation of Maduro’s government, determined the results announced by electoral authorities lacked credibility. The U.N. experts stopped short of validating the opposition’s claim to victory but said the faction’s voting records published online appear to exhibit all of the original security features.

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Conclusion

The recognition of González as the president-elect is a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela. The U.S. government’s decision is seen as a boost to the opposition and a challenge to Maduro’s authority.

FAQs

Q: What is the current political situation in Venezuela?
A: Venezuela is in the midst of a political crisis, with President Nicolas Maduro facing opposition from the United States and other countries.

Q: Who is Edmundo González?
A: González is a Venezuelan opposition candidate who was recognized as the “president-elect” by the U.S. government.

Q: What is the significance of the U.S. recognition of González?
A: The recognition is seen as a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela, and is a boost to the opposition.

Q: What is the next step for Venezuela?
A: Venezuela’s next presidential term begins Jan. 10, and Maduro has already accepted an invitation from the ruling party-controlled National Assembly for a swearing-in ceremony.

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