Venezuela: On 6 January US President
Joe Biden met at the White House with Venezuela’s
Edmundo González, who the US and other members of the foreign community recognise as the winner of the July 2024 Venezuelan presidential election in which President
Nicolás Maduro claimed victory, being sworn in for a third term
on 10 January. According to a White House readout, the meeting was held to “
discuss shared efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela” and both leaders “
agreed there is nothing more essential to the success of democracy than respecting the will of the people, as expressed through a transparent and accountable electoral process, and that González’s… campaign victory should be honoured through a peaceful transfer back to democratic rule”. Both leaders also expressed “
deep concern regarding… Maduro and his representatives’ unacceptable and indiscriminate use of repression against peaceful protestors, democracy activists, and civil society”. The readout also cited Biden as saying he would be following “
closely”
the protests called by the opposition for 9 January, the day before the inauguration ceremony, and underscored US commitment to “
continue to hold Maduro and his representatives accountable for their anti-democratic and repressive actions, including by working closely with democratic allies in the hemisphere and around the world”.
End of preview - This article contains approximately 763 words.
Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article
Not a Subscriber?
Choose from one of the following options