Venezuelan opposition leader who says he defeated Maduro meets with Biden

On Monday, President Biden met with the leader of the Venezuelan opposition Edmundo Gonzalez At the White House before Venezuela’s inauguration on Friday President Nicolas Maduro For his third term yet Highly competitive electionsn, a White House official told CBS News.

The United States and several European countries rejected Maduro’s claim of election victory, which was certified by Venezuela’s Supreme Court in August. In November, the United States government recognized Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as president-elect.

Gonzalez’s visit to the White House is the first stop on an international tour to challenge Venezuela’s inauguration and rally international support. He has been living in exile in Spain since a Venezuelan judge issued an arrest warrant following the presidential elections in July.

The National Electoral Council of Venezuela announced Maduro’s victory in the elections hours after the polls closed. Electoral authorities did not provide detailed vote counts, unlike previous presidential elections.

Before the election, the United States struck a deal with Maduro’s government that the United States would temporarily lift some sanctions on Venezuelan oil and gas in exchange for a commitment to holding free and fair elections.

The Maduro regime did not adhere to its side of the agreement and sanctions were reimposed. In September, the United States imposed sanctions on 180 Venezuelan officials for not accepting the election results and committing human rights violations, including murder, repression, and mass arrests of protesters.