[Update] US Recognizes Venezuelan Opposition Leader González As Winner Of The Presidential Election, Days After Incumbent Dictator Maduro Claimed Victory
United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in a statement Thursday declared opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the true winner of the July 28 presidential election, challenging Venezuela's official election results.
Blinken states that the National Electoral Council's declaration of Maduro's victory is "deeply flawed" and lacks credibility. He cites opposition-published tally sheets from over 80% of polling stations, indicating González won by an "insurmountable margin," corroborated by independent observers and exit polls.
The U.S. applauds the 12 million Venezuelans who voted despite challenges and rejects Maduro's allegations against opposition leaders.
Blinken calls for the release of those arrested for peaceful participation and urges a peaceful transition.
Maduro Challenges Elon Musk To A Fight, Amid Venezuela Election Fraud Allegations
Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro this week, challenged SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, to a physical fight, during a speech on national television. The socialist leader is facing backlash over recent presidential election in the South American nation in which he has claimed victory.
“Do you want to fight?' Maduro asked referencing Musk during his speech. "Let’s do it. Elon Musk, I’m ready. I’m not afraid of you, Elon Musk. Let’s fight, wherever you want.”
Musk accepted the challenge in an X post Wednesday. “I accept” he wrote, adding, “He will chicken out.” The Tesla chief also proposed a condition for the fight: if he wins, Maduro would resign as dictator of Venezuela, and if Maduro wins, Musk would give him a free trip to Mars.
The feud between the two began when Musk accused Maduro of committing “major election fraud” in the presidential election.
Maduro responded by labeling Musk a “murderer” and accusing him of funding protests in Venezuela.
The head of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Elvis Amoroso, a close ally of Maduro, declared him winner, claiming that with 80% of ballots counted, Maduro had 51% of the vote, compared to 44% for his main rival.
The Venezuelan opposition dismissed the CNE's announcement as fraudulent and promised to challenge the result.
It said its candidate, Edmundo González, had won with 70% of the votes and insisted he was the rightful president-elect.
The opposition said vote tallies it had received, as well as quick counts, showed González had a lead of 40 percentage points over the incumbent.
Opposition parties had united behind González in an attempt to unseat Maduro after 11 years in power.
