By Global News Service
History has repeated itself in U.S.-Venezuelan relations. On August 1, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement, “Assessing the Results of Venezuela’s Presidential Election,” wherein he declares that “it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election.”
The statement also harshly criticizes Venezuela’s electoral system, the process on voting day, and the manner in which results have been released by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE).
The declaration has been harshly criticized by different governments, political analysts, and social movements, which accuse the U.S. of once again trying to implement the failed “Guaidó plan.” In that plan, the United States unilaterally propped up a seemingly unheard-of member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, and declared that he was the constitutional president of Venezuela.
The statement stands in stark contrast to the reality on the ground in Venezuela. In the early hours of July 29, CNE president Elvis Amoroso had announced the results of the election with 80 percent of the ballots counted and stated that there was an irreversible trend pointing towards a Maduro victory with the current president having obtained 51 percent of the votes. Amoroso also announced that 59 percent of the electorate had participated in the elections. Right-wing candidate Edmundo González came in second place with 44 percent of the vote.
from the Peoples Dispatch / Globetrotter News Service
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