Despite acknowledging the victory of the opposition coalition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, in the recent elections held on July 28, the United States has clarified that it has not yet recognized him as the president of Venezuela. "We are not at that point yet (recognizing him as president). We are in close contact with our partners in the region, especially Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, to find a way forward," said Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the State Department, in a statement cited by the Efe agency.
The official urged both the ruling party and the opposition to engage in dialogue to facilitate a "peaceful transition back to democracy." Last Wednesday, the U.S. government announced its recognition of González Urrutia as the winner of the presidential elections in Venezuela.
Brian Nichols, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the State Department, stated at an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) that there is irrefutable evidence showing Edmundo González defeated Nicolás Maduro by millions of votes, although the electoral authority has yet to release the official records of the election.
Miller also mentioned that the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela has ignored requests for regularity in the elections. With over a week having passed since the elections, any evidence the CNE presents will require "meticulous scrutiny" due to the "potential for alteration and manipulation after this period of time," he noted.
Last week, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica recognized Edmundo González as the President-elect of Venezuela and deemed Nicolás Maduro's proclamation as the winner of the elections to be fraudulent. Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) expressed deep concern over the post-July 28 scenario and warned the authorities of Nicolás Maduro's regime to refrain from repressing protesters.
The Carter Center questioned the legitimacy of the elections in Venezuela and asserted that the elections did not meet international standards of electoral integrity, preventing them from being considered democratic.
Key Questions Surrounding the Recognition of Edmundo González as President
With the ongoing controversy over the presidential election in Venezuela, several questions remain unanswered regarding the recognition of Edmundo González as President. Here are some of the key questions and their answers:
Why hasn't the United States recognized Edmundo González as President of Venezuela?
The United States has stated that it is not yet at the point of recognizing Edmundo González as President. The State Department is in close contact with regional partners, including Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, to determine a path forward.
What evidence supports Edmundo González's victory?
According to Brian Nichols of the State Department, there is irrefutable evidence that Edmundo González defeated Nicolás Maduro by millions of votes. However, the National Electoral Council has yet to release the official records.
Which countries have recognized Edmundo González as President-elect?
Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica have recognized Edmundo González as the President-elect of Venezuela. They consider Nicolás Maduro's proclamation as fraudulent.