US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says there is “overwhelming evidence” that Maduro’s opponent, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, won the election, and US authorities have now officially recognized Gonzalez as the winner of the election. – Considering the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States, and not least the Venezuelan people, that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received the most votes during the presidential election on July 28, says Blinken in a statement on Thursday. Election observers from the American Carter Center have concluded that the election violated Venezuela’s own laws and international standards. The United States is among the countries that have come out the hardest against the current government. STRONG EVIDENCE: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says it is clear that Maduro did not win the election in Venezuela. Photo: AP Announces investigation On the night of Friday Norwegian time, Venezuela’s highest court announced that it will investigate the disputed presidential election, and has asked all the candidates to submit their vote tallies. The investigation comes at the request of Maduro, who submitted a formal request to the court on Wednesday. The Carter Center doubts that the court can conduct an independent investigation, citing the court’s loyalty to Maduro and the incumbent government. – Here you have another government institution that has been appointed by the government to verify the government’s figures from the election results. This is not an independent review, says Carter Center Senior Advisor Jennie K. Lincoln. PROTESTS: The election results have triggered major protests in large parts of the country. Here from the capital Caracas. Photo: Fernando Vergara / AP Major protests Maduro claims he won the election with 51.2 percent of the vote, contradicting election day polls that suggested González had won. In the statement from Blinken, there were no threats of concrete, new sanctions against Venezuela, but he hinted at possible consequences. Reuters reported on Tuesday that the US is considering new sanctions in the wake of the disputed election. – We wholeheartedly support the re-establishment of democracy in Venezuela, and stand ready with our international partners to assess opportunities to strengthen democracy, says Blinken. Unrest and political crisis have characterized Venezuela this week. On Monday, incumbent President Nicolás Maduro declared that he won Sunday’s presidential election. This has led to major protests in the country. At least 20 people have lost their lives, according to AFP. SOWING DOUBTS: According to Venezuela’s electoral authorities, incumbent President Nicolás Maduro was re-elected at the weekend. However, several have cast doubt on the election victory. Photo: Fernando Vergara / AP Unpopular The opposition, led by presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzales Urrutia and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, says they were the ones who won the election. They claim they got 70 percent of the votes. The opposition believes printouts from the electronic voting machines after the polls closed on Sunday prove that Maduro lost the election. Throughout the week, they have also repeated that there is something they can prove. Also in opinion polls ahead of the election, it was the opposition that received the highest support. Maduro is an unpopular president, and several countries suspect him of electoral fraud. Among others, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia have asked Venezuela to provide detailed vote counts. Published 02.08.2024, at 06.10 Updated 02.08.2024, at 06.17
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Overwhelming evidence that the opposition won in Venezuela – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
