The U.S. is poised to recognize Edmundo González as the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election, challenging Nicolas Maduro’s claim of victory. Brian Nichols, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, cited “overwhelming evidence” that González defeated Maduro by millions of votes, during an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS). Nichols urged global governments to acknowledge González’s victory to uphold democratic principles and prevent fraud by Maduro.

The Venezuelan electoral council, controlled by Maduro, controversially announced his victory with 51.2% of the vote, despite credible polling indicating an opposition win. The opposition has alleged fraud, supported by a paper trail of 80% of the votes, showing González with 67% compared to Maduro’s 30%. This evidence contradicts the electoral council’s results and has sparked protests and unrest in Venezuela, with clashes resulting in at least 12 deaths and hundreds of arrests.

The Biden administration has so far urged transparency, calling for the release of detailed voting data, which Maduro claims were compromised due to a system hack. In response, Maduro has sought an audit by Venezuela’s Supreme Court, a move experts consider a legal bypass to avoid showing voting records. The Carter Center, an international observer, criticized the election, stating it lacked democratic integrity.

The OAS meeting did not result in a resolution urging Venezuela to disclose vote details due to abstentions and absences from key countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. This division highlights U.S. challenges in influencing regional democracy, as some Caribbean nations, benefiting from Maduro’s Petrocaribe initiative, remain supportive of Venezuela.

Analysts suggest Brazil and Colombia’s abstentions could signal their willingness to mediate a peaceful transition, though skepticism remains due to their leaders’ historical ties to Venezuela’s chavismo movement. The situation underscores the complexity of U.S. diplomatic efforts in Latin America amid diminishing influence and shifting alliances.