“Based on the overwhelming majority of the evidence, it is clear to the United States, and more importantly to the Venezuelan people, that Edmundo González Urrutia received the largest number of votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Thursday.
Washington’s announcement went no further than congratulating Gonzalez on a “successful campaign.” It’s the latest move by the United States since Sunday’s disputed election to recognize Gonzalez as the country’s new OPEC leader.
Controversy over the results of the presidential election has sparked protests in Venezuela. Venezuela’s electoral council declared Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, the winner of the July 28 election with 51 percent of the vote. But the country’s opposition claims that with a turnout of around 90 percent, Gonzalez received more than twice as many votes as the incumbent president. That’s in line with independent polls conducted before the election.
Photo: MTI/EPA/EFE/Miguel Gutierrez
The opposition has published detailed counting data on a public website, while the government has not yet shared any information beyond the national vote totals for the candidates.
In a statement on Thursday, Blinken did not threaten new sanctions on Venezuela, but hinted at possible “punitive measures.” Reuters reported on Tuesday that Washington was considering new sanctions after the disputed election.
