“Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Thursday evening.
In his statement, Blinken did not say the United States was recognizing González as Venezuela’s president.
“We congratulate Edmundo González Urrutia on his successful campaign,” Blinken said. “Now is the time for the Venezuelan parties to begin discussions on a respectful, peaceful transition in accordance with Venezuelan electoral law and the wishes of the Venezuelan people.”
Biden administration officials this week attempted to reach out to the Venezuelan government, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the private talks. Blinken’s announcement is likely to upset the Maduro government, the person said, and could halt the conversations.
Protesters in Venezuela and governments around the world have demanded Maduro publish precinct-level voting data to prove his election council’s claim that he won the election. At least 16 people have been killed in clashes across the country since Sunday, according to the rights group Foro Penal, a survey of hospitals and the defense ministry.
Maduro is the handpicked successor of Hugo Chávez, who founded Venezuela’s socialist state a quarter century ago. The authoritarian has ruled the South American country for more than a decade.
More than 7 million Venezuelans — a quarter of the population — have fled the country in the past decade amid a collapsing economy and growing repression.
