President Joe Biden’s administration warned they would seek accountability for those responsible of fraud in Venezuela’s elections.
Venezuela Dictator Nicolas Maduro has refused to accept opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez’s victory in the recently held presidential elections.
President Biden’s administration’s announcement comes hours after global protests erupted criticizing Maduro’s regime and requesting election results be respected.
Assistant Secretary for Western hemisphere affairs Brian Nichols made the announcement.
“More than 3 weeks after the July 28 election, Nicolas Maduro and his representatives still refuse to release the original tally sheets that reflect Venezuelans’ true aspirations for their country’s future,” said Nichols. “The United States will hold accountable those who enable electoral fraud and repression. The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected.”
More than 3 weeks after the July 28 election, Nicolas Maduro and his representatives still refuse to release the original tally sheets that reflect Venezuelans’ true aspirations for their country’s future. The United States will hold accountable those who enable electoral fraud…
— Brian A. Nichols (@WHAAsstSecty) August 20, 2024
Despite Nichols’ comments, the Maduro regime has showed no signs of faltering.
Maduro’s latest public appearances seem as defiant as ever, saying to the US “he will not be their slave.”
Venezuela’s elections follow failed negotiations between Venezuela’s government and President Joe Biden’s administration over electoral assurances in exchange for sanctions relief.
Despite promises of allowing free and fair elections, the Venezuelan regime barred opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from participating in the same.
However, Machado invested her political capital into former Venezuelan Ambassador Edmundo Gonzalez, who subsequently won the presidential elections.
Maduro has fiercely persecuted his political opposition, even arbitrarily arresting opposition party leaders days before the presidential elections.
Maduro threatened prior to the elections that if he was defeated, “Venezuela would turn into a bloodbath.”
However, international pressure has increased for Maduro to step down and some allege President Biden offered the former amnesty if he agrees to a peaceful power transition.
