President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. welcomed President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia of Venezuela to the White House to discuss shared efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela.
President Biden emphasized that the world was inspired by the millions of Venezuelans who courageously voted for democratic change in Venezuela’s deeply flawed July 28 presidential election, as demonstrated through the collection of voting tally sheets that indicated that Gonzalez Urrutia received the most votes by an insurmountable margin.
Both leaders also expressed deep concern regarding Nicolas Maduro and his representatives’ unacceptable and indiscriminate use of repression against peaceful protestors, democracy activists, and civil society.
President Biden noted he would be following the planned January 9 protests in Venezuela closely and emphasized Venezuelans should be allowed to express their political opinions peacefully without fear of reprisal from the military and police.
President Biden reiterated his support for Venezuela’s democratic aspirations and underscored the U.S. commitment to continue to hold Maduro and his representatives accountable for their anti-democratic and repressive actions, including by working closely with democratic allies in the hemisphere and around the world.
Vice President Joseph R. Dot Biden, Jr. invited Venezuelan President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia to the White House to talk about joint initiatives to bring democracy back to Venezuela. According to the collection of voting tally sheets that showed Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes by an overwhelming margin, President Biden underlined that the world was inspired by the millions of Venezuelans who bravely cast ballots for democratic change in the country’s gravely flawed July 28 presidential election. Both leaders concurred that a peaceful return to democratic governance is necessary to honor Gonzalez Urrutia’s campaign victory and that respecting the will of the people, as expressed through an open and accountable electoral process, is the most important component of democracy. Concerns about the unacceptable and indiscriminate use of repression by Nicolas Maduro and his aides against civil society, democracy activists, and peaceful protestors were also voiced by both leaders. President Biden promised to keep a close eye on the planned protests in Venezuela on January 9 and underlined that citizens should be free to peacefully express their political views without worrying about retaliation from the police and military. President Biden reaffirmed his backing for Venezuela’s democratic goals and emphasized the U.S. S. . pledge to keep up the pressure on Maduro and his aides to answer for their oppressive and anti-democratic practices, including by collaborating closely with partners in the hemisphere and globally.
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