U.S. Recognizes Opposition Candidate as Winner of Controversial Venezuelan Election

The United States has officially recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of Venezuela's recent presidential election, calling for a transition process in the country. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that overwhelming evidence indicates González Urrutia received the most votes in the July 28 election, contradicting the ruling party's claim of victory for President Nicolás Maduro. This marks a significant escalation in U.S. criticism of the election, which has faced widespread condemnation for its lack of transparency from various international organizations. The Venezuelan government, through its National Electoral Council (CNE), declared Maduro the winner, but the absence of detailed vote counts has raised suspicions about the electoral process. The Carter Center, which sent observers, concluded that the elections "cannot be considered democratic." Protests erupted in Venezuela following the election, fueled by public discontent over the perceived electoral fraud and the government's failure to provide clear results. In response to the situation, Blinken condemned threats against opposition leaders, including María Corina Machado, who has been vocal in challenging the election results. The G7 foreign ministers have also urged Maduro to publish the vote tallies and exercise restraint towards the opposition. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government maintains that Maduro's victory margin remains unchanged, despite international calls for transparency. As the political crisis deepens, fears of increased protests and violence loom large, with thousands of opposition supporters taking to the streets. The ongoing turmoil is exacerbated by Venezuela's dire economic conditions, which have led to mass emigration, with over 7.7 million people leaving the country since 2014.