‘Overwhelming evidence’ opposition candidate won Venezuela vote: US

Washington, 2 August 2023 (TDI): The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said there was “overwhelming evidence” Venezuela’s opposition won the recent presidential election.

In a statement, Blinken said it was clear Edmundo González, had secured the most votes – despite incumbent president Nicolás Maduro declaring a disputed victory.

He said that due to the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the US and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia secured the most votes in Venezuela’s 28 July presidential election.

His staement comes as the presidents of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico all called on Venezuela to release the full details of last Sunday’s election.

Last Sunday, the electoral council, which is government-controlled, announced President Maduro had won the vote for a third term.

But this was immediately disputed by the opposition who said, with access to the majority of receipts from electronic voting machines around the nation, it was false.

The opposition claimed its own vote tally shows it won the election by a wide margin. Opinion polls ahead of the vote had suggested a clear victory for the challenger.

President Maduro has previously accused foreign governments of interfering in the polls.

He has strongly denied electoral fraud and has said the opposition has instigated a coup by disputing the election result.

The announcement of President Maduro’s victory set off deadly demonstrations in Caracas.

It has also attracted global criticism, with many governments around the world urging the Venezuelan government release proof of the result.