The United States has said “it is clear” that President Nicolas Maduro lost the popular vote in Venezuela’s election last week, as a key opposition leader said she is in hiding in fear for her life.
“Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
“In addition, the United States rejects Maduro’s unsubstantiated allegations against opposition leaders. Maduro and his representatives’ threats to arrest opposition leaders, including Edmundo González and María Corina Machado, are an undemocratic attempt to repress political participation and retain power,” Blinken added.
Protests broke out across Venezuela after the country’s electoral body, which is stacked with regime allies, announced Maduro as the winner with 51% of the votes.
The election was seen as the most consequential in years, with Venezuela’s stalling democracy and hopes of recovering its shattered economy on the line. Many young opposition supporters said they would leave the country if Maduro was re-elected, pointing to the devastating collapse of Venezuela’s economy and violent repression under his rule.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, who is a member of Maduro’s inner circle, called for the arrest of opposition figure Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez on Tuesday. The country’s Public Ministry later clarified that no arrest warrant had been issued for either opposition figure.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, who is a member of Maduro’s inner circle, called for the arrest of opposition figure Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez on Tuesday. The country’s Public Ministry later clarified that no arrest warrant had been issued for either opposition figure.
An energized opposition movement – which overcame their divisions to form a coalition and coalesce around Gonzalez – enjoyed strong polling figures prior to the vote. It had been seen as the ruling establishment’s toughest challenge in 25 years.
A source from Machado’s campaign confirmed to CNN on Thursday that she is currently “sheltered.”
“I am writing this from hiding, fearing for my life, my freedom,” Machado wrote in an opinion editorial published Thursday by The Wall Street Journal. “I could be captured as I write these words.”
Though Maduro had promised free and fair elections, the process was marred with allegations of foul play – with opposition figures arrested, their key leader Machado banned from running, opposition witnesses allegedly denied access to the centralized vote count, and overseas Venezuelans largely unable to cast ballots.
