US recognises Maduro’s rival Edmundo Gonzalez as winner of Venezuela election

The United States recognised Edmundo Gonzalez, the opposition candidate, as the winner of Venezuela's disputed presidential election, rejecting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's claim of victory.

"Given the overwhelming evidence, it is quite clear to United States and to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela's July 28 presidential election," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 1).

The announcement from Washington only extended congratulations to Gonzalez for a "successful campaign," marking the closest the US has come since Sunday’s contested election to recognising him as the new leader of Venezuela.

It is worth mentioning here, the dispute over the presidential election results has sparked protests in the country.

Venezuela's electoral council proclaimed Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, the winner of the July 28 election with 51% of the vote.

However the country's opposition articulate that its tally of about 90% of the votes shows that Gonzalez received more than double the support of the current president, in line with independent polling conducted before the contest.

The opposition also released complete tallies on a public website, while the government has so far not shared any information beyond a national total of votes for each candidate.

Notably, Blinken's statement on Thursday did not threaten new sanctions on Venezuela but did hint at possible disciplinary action.

According to a Reuters report Washington was considering fresh sanctions in response to the disputed election.

"We fully support the process of re-establishing democratic norms in Venezuela and stand ready to consider ways to bolster it jointly with our international partners," Blinken said.

Blinken also urge that opposition leaders be protected and kept safe.

"Law enforcement and security forces should not become an instrument of political violence used against citizens exercising their democratic rights," said the US Secretary of State.

Meanwhile on Thursday, the presidents of Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia called for Venezuela to release detailed voting tallies amid the dispute over the presidential election results.

(With inputs from agencies)