Canada.- Canada officially recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the president-elect of Venezuela, affirming his victory in the July 28 presidential election. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announced the recognition in a message on social media platform X, following a conversation with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
During their discussion, Joly reiterated Canada’s unwavering support for those working to uphold the will of the Venezuelan people. “Canada recognizes that Edmundo González Urrutia won the elections of July 28 and is the president-elect of Venezuela,” she stated, emphasizing the country’s commitment to democratic principles in Venezuela.
The announcement came just a day before Nicolás Maduro’s scheduled inauguration, which has been marred by opposition accusations of electoral fraud. Additionally, on December 17, Canada imposed sanctions on several senior Venezuelan officials, including the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Caryslia Rodríguez Rodríguez, for actions deemed to undermine democracy and target opposition forces.