US RECOGNIZES VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE AS ELECTION WINNER

Fri 02 August 2024:

The United States declared Thursday that Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez is the clear victor in the country’s presidential election.

“Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election,” stated Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken also dismissed current President Nicolas Maduro’s unproven accusations against opposition leaders, calling them an undemocratic effort to suppress political participation and maintain power. “Maduro and his representatives’ threats to arrest opposition leaders, including Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado, are an undemocratic attempt to repress political participation and retain power,” he said.

__________________________________________________________________________

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22

__________________________________________________________________________

Congratulating Gonzalez on his “successful campaign,” Blinken urged Venezuelan parties to commence discussions on a “respectful, peaceful transition.” He emphasized the US’s readiness to support the re-establishment of democratic norms in Venezuela alongside international partners.

Blinken criticized the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) for a flawed vote processing and result announcement, stating the announced outcome “does not represent the will of the Venezuelan people.” The US has called for a full and transparent release of the election results.

According to the CNE, Maduro, 61, obtained 51% of the vote, while 74-year-old Gonzalez received 44%. The opposition disputes these results.

Blinken highlighted that the CNE has yet to publish the data or vote tally sheets, whereas the democratic opposition has released over 80% of the tally sheets from polling stations. “Those tally sheets indicate that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received the most votes in this election by an insurmountable margin,” he noted. “Independent observers have corroborated these facts, and this outcome was also supported by election day exit polls and quick counts.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

______________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22