Blinken, UN chief speak by phone on Venezuelan elections

WASHINGTON

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke by phone Wednesday, expressing their readiness to support a Venezuelan-led process aimed at restoring democratic norms following presidential elections which Washington said the opposition candidate won.

"The Secretary noted that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received the most votes on July 28, adding that the actas provided overwhelming evidence that Gonzalez defeated (incumbent President Nicolas) Maduro," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a readout of the call.

"The Secretary and Secretary-General expressed concerns for the safety and well-being of opposition leaders following the election and condemned the political violence and repression, indiscriminate arrests and violation of due process," Miller added.

Blinken also thanked Guterres for his "efforts in urging the Venezuelan parties to begin discussions on a peaceful transition to democratic norms," the statement said.

According to the Venezuelan National Electoral Council, Maduro, who has been running the country since 2013, secured 51% of the vote against 44% by Gonzalez. The results, however, have been disputed by the opposition.

Blinken said in a previous statement that the election council still has not published the data or any of the vote tallies, while the opposition has published more than 80% of the tally sheets from polling stations throughout Venezuela.

"Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election," he said in a statement.