The United States government said in a statement on Thursday that Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia beat socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro during the country’s recent presidential election.
The announcement comes after at least 17 protesters have been killed and hundreds more arrested so far in riots that have broken out over the country’s sham election.
More than 12 million Venezuelans voted during the election, which is run by the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE).
“The CNE’s rapid declaration of Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the presidential election came with no supporting evidence,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement. “The CNE still has not published disaggregated data or any of the vote tally sheets, despite repeated calls from Venezuelans and the international community to do so.”
Independent watchdogs have said that the CNE’s refusal to provide precinct-level official results, in addition to other serious voting irregularities, have destroyed the CNE’s credibility.
“Meanwhile, the democratic opposition has published more than 80 percent of the tally sheets received directly from polling stations throughout Venezuela,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “Those tally sheets indicate that Edmundo González Urrutia received the most votes in this election by an insurmountable margin.”
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“Independent observers have corroborated these facts, and this outcome was also supported by election day exit polls and quick counts,” he added. “In the days since the election, we have consulted widely with partners and allies around the world, and while countries have taken different approaches in responding, none have concluded that Nicolás Maduro received the most votes this election.”
Blinken said that there was “overwhelming evidence” that Maduro lost the election and urged Venezuelan parties “to begin discussions on a respectful, peaceful transition in accordance with Venezuelan electoral law and the wishes of the Venezuelan people.”
“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,” he added.
