US Admits Opository Leader Tennis Gonzalez Wins Venezuelan Election, Foreign Minister Blinken: Lots Of Evidence
JAKARTA - The United States recognizes opposition leader Total Gonzalez as the winner of the Venezuel presidential election, rejecting the claim of the incumbent Nicolas Maduro.
"Given the enormous amount of evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuelan presidential election on July 28, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Thursday.
Foreign Minister Blinken's statement on Thursday did not threaten new sanctions against Venezuela, but he hinted at possible "punishment measures." Washington was previously reported to be considering new sanctions, following disputed elections.
"We fully support the process of rebuilding democratic norms in Venezuela and are ready to consider ways to strengthen them along with our international partners," Foreign Minister Blinken said.
Furthermore, he also urged that opposition leaders be protected and kept safe.
"Law enforcement and security forces must not be instruments of political violence used against citizens who exercise their democratic rights," he said.
As previously reported, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia's Presidents in a joint statement asked Venezuela to release a detailed vote count on Thursday, amid a dispute over the results of the presidential election.
The dispute over the results of the presidential election has sparked protests in Venezuela. Venezuela's electoral council announced Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, as the winner of last July 28 elections with 51 percent of the vote.
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However, the country's opposition said its tally of around 90 percent of the vote showed Gonzalez received more than double the support from the incumbent president, in line with an independent poll conducted before the election.
Opposition has released detailed tally on public websites, while the government has so far not shared any information beyond the total national vote for each candidate.