\n<\/p>\n
The Venezuelan opposition leader, Mar\u00eda Corina Machado, has said the US, Europe and the UK should recognise the opposition\u2019s candidate as the president of Venezuela.<\/p>\n
Speaking to international journalists, Ms Machado said: \u201cEveryone knows that Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez is the president-elect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Multiple foreign governments have said they believe the opposition won July\u2019s election in Venezuela, but stopped short of recognising Mr Gonz\u00e1lez as the president.<\/p>\n
The state-run electoral council and the country’s highest court – both stacked with government loyalists – have announced that President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro won a third term in July, but voting tallies published by the opposition indicate Mr Gonz\u00e1lez won.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Ms Machado was banned from running in the election and Mr Gonz\u00e1lez ran in her place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI certainly think they [the US and UK] should recognise Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez for what he is,\u201d she said in a response to the BBC when asked if it was time for the West to recognise him as president.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe position of Maduro is to increase repression. It keeps on isolating him and is unsustainable,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The result has been recognised by President Maduro\u2019s allies including Russia, China and Iran, but not the majority of foreign governments, who have called on the government to release the voting tallies to prove the result.<\/p>\n
This includes some countries that had previously maintained closer relationships with Maduro\u2019s government, including Brazil and Colombia.<\/p>\n
After the last election in 2018 was widely dismissed as neither free nor fair, dozens of governments including the US recognised the then opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president and imposed heavy sanctions on Venezuela.<\/p>\n
But the US, UK and EU have stopped short of recognising Mr Gonz\u00e1lez as the president this time, despite US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken saying there is \u201coverwhelming evidence\u201d that he won, not President Maduro.<\/p>\n
Instead, several foreign governments in the West have prioritised the so-called “Brazil approach” to try to negotiate a peaceful transition of power with Mr Maduro\u2019s government.<\/p>\n
In response, Ms Machado said: \u201cSome countries withheld from doing that [recognising the opposition candidate as president].<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to increase our stake at this point. The UK should move forward and say that Edmundo is president.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that President Maduro had to recognise that \u201cthe cost of staying in power will increase every day that goes by\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI certainly think the US should do much more. Perpetrators of human rights violations should know they will be held accountable. Not only in the military but also the judicial system.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese messages should come clear to the regime.\u201d<\/p>\n
She remains in hiding as she spoke to journalists. The government has called for her and Mr Gonz\u00e1lez to be arrested.<\/p>\n
She said there was \u201ccertainly\u201d a risk they could be put in prison.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are looking for us intensely. They have put in prison people they thought know where I was,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to stay alive and free and that is our main challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day that goes by is harder and riskier. The regime is able to do anything. They have no limits.\u201d<\/p>\n
But she said she would not seek asylum elsewhere: \u201cI believe my duty is to stay in Venezuela.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n