United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that "it is clear" both to the US and to the Venezuelan people that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzales won the most votes in the country's contested presidential election.
Blinken stated that Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) declared that President Nicolas Maduro won the election with no "supportive evidence" that would back the claim. "Meanwhile, the democratic opposition has published more than 80 percent of the tally sheets received directly from polling stations throughout Venezuela," Blinken continued, adding that these tally sheets showed that Gonzales obtained the most votes "by an insurmountable margin." He underlined that Gonzales' victory was also supported by independent observers, exit polls and quick counts.
"Now is the time for the Venezuelan parties to begin discussions on a respectful, peaceful transition in accordance with Venezuelan electoral law and the wishes of the Venezuelan people," Blinken concluded.
