Venezuela's government announced on Friday that it will compel former opposition candidate Edmundo González to provide sworn testimony as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged attempts to sow panic in the country by disputing the results of the recent presidential election. President Nicolas Maduro's administration is intensifying efforts to clamp down on opponents who claim victory over the self-declared socialist leader.
Despite claims by Maduro of winning the July 28 election by over 1 million votes, tally sheets from González's campaign, available online, indicate a significant victory margin against the incumbent president. The credibility of the election has been questioned by the U.S., United Nations, and other entities, with calls for transparency in the voting process.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab accused González of unlawfully encroaching on the responsibilities of the National Electoral Council during a press conference on Friday. Following the election, González and opposition leader María Corina Machado, who replaced González after her disqualification, have gone into hiding as security forces target dissenters.
While ruling party members have demanded the arrest of González and Machado, authorities have refrained from taking action thus far. The Biden administration has condemned Venezuela's Supreme Court for certifying Maduro's victory, citing evidence that contradicts the court's findings.
Opposition volunteers managed to collect voting tallies from 80% of polling booths nationwide, utilizing QR codes on tally sheets to verify results. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres has urged Venezuela to uphold transparency and address human rights concerns. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has withheld recognition of Maduro's win pending a detailed breakdown of election results.
The ongoing dispute over the election outcome continues to escalate, with international actors closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela.
