Group of 7 Calls Maduro's Presidency and Inauguration 'Illegitimate'

The seven industrialized nations of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the High Representative of the European Union, issued a statement deeming Nicolás Maduro's inauguration as President of Venezuela to lack democratic legitimacy and condemned it strongly. The statement reads: "We, the foreign ministers of the G7 and the High Representative of the European Union, condemn the lack of democratic legitimacy in Nicolás Maduro's inauguration as President of Venezuela and reject the ongoing repression and Maduro's efforts to maintain power at the expense of the Venezuelan people, who voted peacefully and broadly for change on July 28, 2024." The G7 foreign ministers also condemned the ongoing repression of civil society and opposition members in Venezuela, including María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, emphasizing that "the unacceptable detention and exile of political leaders demonstrates the urgent need to create an environment in Venezuela where democratic participation can flourish without fear of repression." The G7 foreign ministers expressed serious concern over Maduro's continued disregard for the principles of democratic governance, the rule of law, and human rights, deeming arbitrary detentions and other abuses against civilians, including children, youth, and activists targeted after peaceful democratic protests in Venezuela, unacceptable. At the end of the statement, the G7 foreign ministers stressed the necessity of a peaceful, democratic solution led by the people of Venezuela to resolve this crisis and declared their commitment to cooperating with the people of Venezuela and the international community to ensure respect for the democratic will of the people of this country and to establish a peaceful power transition process. Venezuelan electoral officials and the Supreme Court claim that Nicolás Maduro won the election on July 28 with just over half of the votes, but counts shared by the opposition indicate a decisive victory for Edmundo González. While only a few countries, including Russia, have recognized Maduro's victory, the United States, the European Parliament, and the G7 have recognized González Urrutia as the "elected president." On Friday, the United States imposed new sanctions against eight Venezuelan government officials and increased the reward for information leading to Nicolás Maduro's arrest from $15 million to $25 million. The new U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan officials coincided with Maduro's inauguration and the start of his third presidential term. Among those sanctioned on Friday by the Biden administration are Héctor Obergón, head of the Venezuelan National Oil Company, Ramón Velásquez, Minister of Transportation, and several military officials. The European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada also imposed similar sanctions against current and former Venezuelan government officials. The U.S. State Department stated that Maduro and his associates continue their repressive actions in Venezuela, and Washington and its allies reject Maduro's "fraudulent" claim of victory in the elections in solidarity with the Venezuelan people. Nicolás Maduro, in his inauguration speech on Friday, accused the Biden administration of "vengeance." Maduro will remain in the presidential palace of Venezuela for another six years; the U.S. and Europe have sanctioned him. The U.S. increased the reward for Maduro's arrest to $25 million. Two American citizens were arrested in Venezuela on charges of attempting a coup. Venezuela reported the detention of 125 foreign citizens on suspicion of "attempting a coup." The exiled opposition leader of Venezuela traveled to the U.S. to discuss with Joe Biden.