A Venezuelan judge issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Edmundo González as part of a criminal investigation into the results of the July election, which both the ruling party and opposition claim to have won. González faces charges of conspiracy, falsifying documents, and usurpation of powers. Prosecutors focused on tally sheets from electronic voting machines used in the election, with the opposition claiming they show González won by a wide margin. The ruling party declared President Nicolás Maduro the victor, but did not release detailed results, citing a website hack. International pressure mounted for a breakdown of results, leading to a high court audit that certified Maduro’s victory. González, who failed to appear for questioning, criticized authorities for lack of due process guarantees and accused them of political bias. An analysis of tally sheets released by the opposition showed González received significantly more votes than the government claimed, casting doubt on the official results. Opposition leader María Corina Machado condemned the arrest warrant, stating it only strengthens the resolve of those seeking freedom in Venezuela. The situation highlights the ongoing political tensions in the country and the disputed nature of the election results.
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