Joe Biden after meeting with Edmundo González: his “victory” over Maduro must be “honored”

The president of the United States, Joe Bidenand the Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia They met this Monday, January 6, in a meeting at the White House. The North American president said that his “victory” over Nicolas Maduro in the elections held on July 28 in Venezuela.

(Also read: Will Edmundo González be able to return to Venezuela to take office as president?)

According to a statement released by the White House after the meeting, Biden and González Urrutia stated that “there is nothing more essential for the success of democracy than respecting the will of the people” and the US president stressed that “the electoral victory of González Urrutia “must be respected through a peaceful transition to a democratic Government.”

In the July 28 elections in Venezuela, the National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed the re-election of Nicolás Maduro, who plans to be sworn in again on January 10, despite the opposition’s complaints about the electoral results.

During the meeting, according to the White House, Biden and González Urrutia expressed “deep concern” about the “unacceptable and indiscriminate use of repression” by Nicolás Maduro against peaceful protesters, democratic activists and civil society.

In this regard, Biden indicated that he will “closely” follow the protests planned for January 9 in Venezuela, pointing out that Venezuelans must be able to demonstrate “without fear of reprisals from the army and the police” in the protests.

(Also read: María Corina Machado calls for marches a day before the presidential inauguration in Venezuela)

“The world was inspired by the millions of Venezuelans who bravely voted for democratic change,” Biden added, according to a statement from the White House.

The Nicolás Maduro regime “strongly and categorically” condemned the support expressed by the president of the United States for the anti-Chavista leader.

(Also read: Venezuela condemns Joe Biden’s support for Edmundo González)

In the opinion of the Venezuelan Executive, it is “grotesque “That an exiting government, like that of Joe Biden, sunk in political discredit and marked by a legacy of domestic and international failures, insists on supporting a violent project that has already been defeated by the popular vote and the revolutionary democracy of the Venezuelan people.” .

Biden and González Urrutia, according to a statement released after the meeting, stated that “there is nothing more essential for the success of democracy than respecting the will of the people,” and stressed that “the electoral victory” of the candidate of the largest opposition coalition -the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD)- “must be respected through a peaceful transition towards a democratic Government.”