The weeks leading up to July 28th have been emotional for Venezuelans. After it was all said and done, Venezuelans across the world have cried, questioning how the presidential election results were possible. Not because opposition candidate Edmundo González was declared the winner but because Nicolas Maduro was declared the victor. With the likelihood that Venezuela will continue under a communist regime, the U.S. announced that a Maduro victory raises "concerns."
After the polls closed at 6:00 P.M., the results from across the country began to circulate, showing González as the clear winner by a large majority. In the early hours of this morning, Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader, announced that González had won win over 70% of the vote. However, Nicolas Maduro has declared himself the winner, arguing that his campaign did not succumb to alleged violence from the opposition.
In response to the outcome, Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) slammed the Biden Administration over easing sanctions after Maduro claimed that there would be free and fair elections. On social media, Senator Rubio wrote that "Biden & Harris broadly eased Trump sanctions on Maduro regime as part of a 'deal' for elections in Venezuela." "Today was that election and it was a complete fraud," he added. "The latest example of how our enemies have suckered Biden and Harris repeatedly over the last four years."
Biden & Harris broadly eased Trump sanctions on Maduro regime as part of a “deal” for elections in #Venezuela
Today was that election and it was a complete fraud
The latest example of how our enemies have suckered Biden and Harris repeatedly over the last four years
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 29, 2024
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also addressed the election results, calling on the electoral authority to publish the election tabulations.
In a statement, Secretary Blinken commented that the U.S. has "serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people." He added that the international community was closely monitoring the process and that it would respond accordingly.
