Overwhelming evidence Venezuela opposition won election - Blinken

 

              Opposition leader María Corina Machado claims her party's candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won by a landslide

According to the US secretary of state, there is "overwhelming evidence" that the opposition in Venezuela won the most recent presidential election.

Even though incumbent President Nicolás Maduro declared a disputed victory, according to a declaration from Antony Blinken, it was evident that Edmundo González had received the most votes.

"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 28 July presidential election," stated Blinken.

His action coincides with calls from the presidents of Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico for Venezuela to divulge all election-related information.

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 The government-run electoral council declared last Sunday that President Maduro had won the race for a third term.

However, this was quickly refuted by the opposition, who said it was untrue and had access to most of the nation's computerized voting machine receipts.

The opposition claims that based on its own vote totals, it won the election with a sizable lead. Prior to the election, polls of voters predicted that the challenger would win handily.

Foreign governments have been accused by President Maduro of meddling in the election.

He has vehemently denied electoral fraud and claimed that by contesting the results, the opposition has attempted a coup.

Caracas saw fatal protests after President Maduro's win was announced.

 Additionally, it has drawn condemnation from all around the world, with several governments requesting that the Venezuelan government provide documentation of the outcome.

        As thousands of people protested against the results of Sunday's presidential election, riot police in Caracas used tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators.

China, Russia, and Iran—allies of Venezuela—have acknowledged the outcome.
However, the government of President Maduro has been urged to provide comprehensive voting statistics by the US, the EU, and other G7 nations.
"Electoral data overwhelmingly demonstrate the will of the Venezuelan people: democratic opposition candidate Edmundo González won the most votes in Sunday's election," Mr. Blinken posted on social media.

"Venezuelans have voted, and their votes must count."

Mr. Blinken's intervention is important. Following the widely-dismissed results of the most recent election in 2018, several nations, including the United States, chose to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as acting president in the interim and imposed sanctions on Venezuela.

Mr. Blinken stated that it was "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" .

In a message on X, the previous Twitter platform, Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino expressed her agreement with Mr. Blinken, saying, "We can all confirm, without a doubt, that the legitimate winner and President-elect is Edmundo González."

The leader of the opposition, María Corina Machado, has called for large-scale protests on Saturday and claims to be hiding.

Ms. Machado stated in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that Mr. Maduro did not win the election.

She asserted that Mr. Gonzalez, the candidate for her party, won handily, and Ms. Machado said she could substantiate this claim with receipts from more than 80% of polling places.

In her plea for assistance, Ms. Machado stated that the world community must now determine whether to accept what she described as an illegitimate government.