CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) 鈥 The Venezuelan opposition leader who claims to have defeated President Nicol谩s Maduro in last year鈥檚 presidential election met Monday with U.S. President Joe Biden just days ahead of Maduro's contested inauguration to a third term.
Biden's White House meeting with Edmundo Gonz谩lez, who represented Venezuela鈥檚 main opposition coalition in the July presidential election, took place as the retired diplomat tries to rally support for his effort to get Maduro out of office by Friday, when by law, the South American country's next presidential term begins.
Biden and Gonz谩lez agreed that Gonz谩lez's 鈥渃ampaign victory should be honored through a peaceful transfer back to democratic rule,鈥 according to a White House readout of the meeting. Both men also expressed serious concerns regarding "Maduro and his representatives鈥 unacceptable and indiscriminate use of repression against peaceful protesters, democracy activists, and civil society.鈥
on Saturday with stops in Argentina and Uruguay. His campaign called on Venezuelans living in the Washington area to gather with him Monday outside the offices of the Organization of American States.
Carolina di Martino Popovich waved and cheered in freezing temperatures outside the OAS, accompanied by her daughters Isabella, 1, and Camila, 6, and her mother Petra Gambor. Di Martino Popovich and Gambor are longtime immigrants from Venezuela.
鈥淲e drove 10 hours in the snowstorm from Boston, and we made it,鈥 di Martino Popovich said. 鈥淭hat is how much he means to us. We couldn鈥檛 vote in Venezuela, but we are here to recognize him as our president.鈥
Meanwhile, Maduro already has received an invitation from the 春色直播 Assembly to be sworn in for a third six-year term Friday, more than five months after the 春色直播 Electoral Council, stacked with ruling-party loyalists, declared him winner of the July 28 election.
More than 2,000 people, including minors, were arrested during nationwide post-election demonstrations. Opposition leaders, lawyers, activists and journalists were among those detained.
Unlike previous presidential elections, electoral authorities did not provide detailed vote counts. However, from more than 80% of the nation鈥檚 electronic voting machines, posted them online and said they showed Gonz谩lez had won the election with twice as many votes as Maduro.
The U.S.-based Carter Center, which Maduro鈥檚 government invited to observe the presidential election, has said .
The U.S. and most European governments have and consider Gonz谩lez the legitimate winner.
鈥淲e had a long, fruitful and cordial conversation with President Biden and his team,鈥 Gonz谩lez told reporters. 鈥淲e, of course, thanked the United States government for the support it has given us in this fight for democratic recovery in Venezuela. That is a commitment that we take with us and that we will continue to follow until the last day of the president鈥檚 government.鈥
When asked on Monday about Gonz谩lez's plans, Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello insulted the politician, attacked his credibility and threatened him with arrest. He also insisted that Maduro would be sworn in Friday.
鈥淐oward,鈥 Cabello said, referring to the retired diplomat, whom he accused, without offering any proof, of being a CIA agent. 鈥淗e has neither courage nor disposition... Mr. Gonz谩lez Urrutia knows that as soon as he steps in Venezuela, he will be arrested.鈥
Gonz谩lez, who represented the Unitary Platform coalition, left Venezuela for exile in Spain in September after in connection with an investigation into the publishing of the election's tally sheets. Last week, the government announced a $100,000 reward for information on Gonz谩lez's whereabouts.
Gonz谩lez on Monday also met with Rep. Mike Waltz, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's designate to be his national security adviser once he's sworn in on Jan. 20.
In recent weeks, Gonz谩lez has , but he has not explained how he plans to return or wrest power from Maduro, whose party controls all institutions and the military.
On Sunday, Gonz谩lez addressed Venezuela's armed forces in a social media video, reminding them that according to the constitution, he 鈥渕ust assume the role of commander in chief鈥 on Friday and that they are "called to be a guarantee of sovereignty and respect for the popular will.鈥
But Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino on Monday said the armed forces will recognize Maduro as president on Inauguration Day.
鈥淲e categorically and with absolute vehemence reject this clownish and buffoonish act of despicable politicking, which will not have the slightest impact on the robust patriotic conscience of the (Venezuelan armed forces),鈥 Padrino said in an address to the nation on state television.
鈥斺赌斺赌
Miller reported from Washington. Associated Press photographer Jacquelyn Martin in Washington contributed to this report.
