US State Secretary Anthony Blinken spoke last night with Venezuelan opposition leaders Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and Maria Corina Machado in connection with the controversial presidential election in the South American country, Reuters reported, citing BTA, citing a statement from the US State Department.
Blinnickon congratulated Gonzalez for "getting the most votes" in the election on Sunday. He recognized the opposition candidate in Venezuela as the winner of the election on Thursday, Reuters recalled.
At the same time, the secretary of state expressed concern for the safety of the presidential candidate and Machado, the US State Department said. The movement headed by her "Vente Venezuela" said that six hooded men overcame security, entered the movement's headquarters in Caracas, took equipment and ransacked the site.
Venezuela's National Electoral Council (NIS) announced last night that the results after counting nearly 97% of the votes from Sunday's presidential election confirmed the victory of the current head of state, Nicolás Maduro, with just under 52%.