United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez via phone and congratulated him for "receiving the most votes" in the country's presidential election.
"The Secretary expressed his concern for their safety and well-being following the election and condemned all political violence and repression. The Secretary applauded the Venezuelan people for their dedication to democracy in the face of significant challenges and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to supporting the process of re-establishing democratic norms in Venezuela," a readout of the conversation stated.
Previously, Blinken recognized incumbent Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's rival as the winner of the presidential contest, citing "overwhelming evidence."
