BTN News: The United States government has recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the true winner of Venezuela’s recent presidential election. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the U.S. and the Venezuelan people know that González Urrutia got the most votes in the election on July 28. This announcement came even though Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) had declared the current president, Nicolás Maduro, as the winner. The CNE said Maduro won 51.2% of the votes, while González Urrutia got 44.2%, with 80% of the votes counted. However, the opposition argues that there was fraud and that they have proof of González Urrutia’s victory.
The U.S. criticized the CNE for quickly announcing Maduro’s win without providing evidence. Blinken noted that the CNE has not shared detailed data or any tally sheets, despite calls for transparency from Venezuelans and the international community. The Carter Center, a well-known organization that observed the elections, reported that the elections did not meet international standards. They pointed out that the CNE did not provide district-level results and highlighted other irregularities, making the announced results hard to trust.
Maduro responded by saying he is willing to “resume dialogue” with the U.S. if they respect Venezuela’s sovereignty and follow the terms discussed in Qatar last year. According to Maduro, these terms include the U.S. unfreezing Venezuelan assets after the elections and the inauguration of the new president in January 2025. Maduro shared a document on social media with these points, although it was not signed by any U.S. representatives.
This diplomatic effort is happening alongside international attempts to mediate the crisis. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have all called for an impartial check of the election results. Brazil has taken on a more significant role, protecting the Argentine Embassy in Caracas and Venezuelan opposition members who sought refuge there after Argentina pulled its diplomats out.
The CNE is expected to respond to requests for transparency. Many predict a battle over the election results, possibly leading to a “war of certificates” in the chavista-controlled Supreme Court. Maduro claims the opposition is trying to stage a coup and has asked the court to clarify what happened during the election.
Edmundo González Urrutia has vowed to defend the will of the Venezuelan people. He said he would never abandon them and would always fight for their choice. Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado has called for a protest and shared her fears about her safety and that of her supporters under Maduro’s regime. Machado, who was seen as a possible presidential candidate, was banned from running by Venezuela’s Supreme Court.
The days after the contested election have been turbulent, with massive protests that sometimes turned violent. There has been a heavy response from security forces. The unrest has caused several deaths, many injuries, and over a thousand arrests as Venezuela struggles with the political crisis.
Maduro said he is ready to talk with the U.S. again, based on their past discussions in Qatar. He posted the terms of those talks online, though no U.S. officials had signed the document. He emphasized that any new talks must respect Venezuela’s sovereignty. International leaders continue to push for a fair review of the election results, with Brazil playing a key role in protecting opposition members and supporting transparency. The situation remains tense as Venezuela’s CNE is expected to respond to calls for openness. The country faces ongoing protests and a heavy crackdown by security forces, leading to many casualties and arrests.
