Call for Recognition: Edmundo Gonzalez’s Victory in Venezuelan Election

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols urged Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and international governments to recognize Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of Sunday's contested election. Speaking at the Organization of American States, Nichols criticized Venezuela's electoral authority for either hiding or falsifying the election results in Maduro's favor.

In a striking address at the Organization of American States, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols on Wednesday called for the immediate recognition of Edmundo Gonzalez as the legitimate winner of Venezuela's recent election.

Nichols sharply criticized the Venezuelan electoral authority (CNE) for delaying the release of detailed election results, suggesting it was either attempting to conceal Gonzalez's victory or fabricating results to favor incumbent President Nicolas Maduro.

The CNE has already declared Maduro the winner, a move widely condemned as implausible by opposition figures, independent pollsters, and international observers.

(With inputs from agencies.)