US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated there is "overwhelming evidence" that Venezuela's opposition candidate won the recent presidential election.  Edmundo González Urrutia secured the most votes in the 28 July election, despite incumbent President Nicolás Maduro's controversial declaration of victory, said Blinken

In his statement, Blinken emphasized, "The overwhelming evidence shows that Edmundo González won the most votes. This is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people."

The announcement follows calls from Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia for Venezuela to release comprehensive details of the election. Last Sunday, the government-controlled electoral council declared Maduro the winner of a third term. However, the opposition quickly challenged this result, arguing that their own count, based on electronic voting machine receipts, indicates a clear victory for González.

The opposition has reported a significant margin of victory for González, aligning with pre-election opinion polls that predicted his win. Maduro has previously accused foreign nations of meddling in the election and has denied any fraud, labeling the opposition's challenge as an attempted coup. Protests erupted in Caracas following the announcement of Maduro's victory, leading to violence and global condemnation.

Countries such as China, Russia, and Iran have recognized Maduro's victory, but the US, European Union, and other G7 nations have demanded that the Venezuelan government release detailed voting data. Blinken's statement highlights the need for a peaceful transition in line with Venezuelan law and the people's wishes.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who claims to be in hiding, has called for large-scale demonstrations on Saturday. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Machado insisted that González won by a landslide and has evidence from over 80% of polling stations to support this claim. She urged the international community to take action against what she describes as an illegitimate government.

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