US recognises Gonzalez as the winner of Venezuela’s election

Opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez leads a demonstration against the official election results that declared that President Nicolas Maduro won re-election in Caracas, Venezuela (Cristian Hernandez/AP)

The stakes grew higher for Venezuela’s electoral authority to show proof backing its decision to declare president Nicolas Maduro the winner of the country’s presidential election after the US recognised opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the victor.

The US announcement followed calls from multiple governments, including close allies of Mr Maduro, for Venezuela’s National Electoral Council to release detailed vote counts, as it has done during previous elections.