Argentina Declares Opposition Victory in Venezuelan Presidential Election

Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Wednesday in which the government body declared opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who ran under the opposition alliance known as the Unitary Platform, the victor of Venezuela's July 28 presidential election.."The undisputed winner of the presidential election that took place in Venezuela on July 28 is Edmundo González Urrutia. The Venezuelan people mostly expressed themselves in favor of their candidacy, and the popular will must be respected." the statement reads. "The Argentine Republic also condemns the criminal charges against the winning presidential candidate and the main leader of the opposition, as well as the arbitrary detention of important figures of opposition political parties, journalists, and press workers.".Following election day on July 28, Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) announced President Nicolas Maduro as the victor in this year's presidential election but have failed to publish detailed tally sheets proving the leader's victory. By contrast, the opposition published over 80 percent of tally sheets from polling stations across Venezuela, which ultimately show a González victory, leading to a number of nations supporting the opposition or otherwise questioning the results of the election, including the United States, Panama, and Colombia..Following Maduro's announced victory, Venezuelan authorities have launched a brutal campaign of political repression against opposition protestors and political figures, culminating in a number of arrests of political figures, a diplomatic crisis regarding Venezuelan asylees, and the opening of an investigation into opposition figurehead Maria Corina Machado and González.