The United States has recognised opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the winner of the presidential election and called for a “peaceful transition of power” in Venezuela.
This statement was published by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on the State Department’s website, APA reported, citing Gazeta.ru.
According to Blinken, “serious mistakes” were made in Venezuela during the processing of ballots and the announcement of the results of the presidential election, the announced results do not reflect “the will of the Venezuelan people”.
The US Secretary of State noted that the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared incumbent Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro the winner without providing evidence. According to the Carter Centre’s observation commission, the data on the results of the counting of 100% of the votes has not yet been published, which eliminates “any credibility” of the announced result.
On 28 June, mass protests erupted in Venezuela following the announcement of the presidential election results. Ten people had competed for the highest political office in the country, with Nicolas Maduro and Edmundo Gonzalez of the right-wing parties seen as the main candidates.
Incumbent President Maduro won the vote, but the opposition refused to recognise the results of the vote. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called on security forces to overthrow the current authorities.
Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said that the opposition in the country is trying to carry out a coup with the support of Western countries.
Previously, Venezuela had said that the post-election protests were completely suppressed.
