Forced Exile of Edmundo González Raises Questions About Biden's Approach to Venezuela

The forced exile to Spain of Edmundo González, the opposition candidate who won the recent presidential election in Venezuela, has raised new questions about how the Biden administration has handled one of the worst political crises in the Western Hemisphere and the limited foreign policy tools available to the U.S. and international partners to counter authoritarian governments.

González left for Spain on Sunday after officials loyal to Nicolás Maduro, the country’s strongman who was declared the winner of the election by the electoral council without proof, ordered his arrest. His exit diminishes hopes of a democratic transition in the country.

Led by conservative leader María Corina Machado, the opposition delivered chavismo’s most significant defeat in the July 28 election, in which González won by a landslide, according to tally receipts from more than 80% of the voting machines that the opposition published online and were verified by the Carter Center.

U.S. officials have taken credit for the fact the elections took place at all, following secret negotiations with Maduro. Still, questions linger about how well prepared they were for a scenario, forewarned by many, in which the Venezuelan ruler stole the election.

“We got an election but is that the endgame?” asked Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Americas Society and Council of the Americas in Washington. “The opposition has done everything and finds itself exposed to repression and a radicalized government, but the U.S. won’t even acknowledge González as president-elect.”

Farnsworth said he was “disappointed” that the administration did not have “an entire menu of options” ready to put into action, beginning with the July 28 election results and stretching all the way until González was to be sworn into office in January. “It’s basic statecraft,” he added...

Read the full article.