The G7 leaders denounced "the lack of democratic legitimacy of the alleged investiture of Nicolás Maduro as president of Venezuela".

"We reject Maduro's continued repressive pursuit of power at the expense of the Venezuelan people, who voted for change peacefully and in large numbers on July 28, 2024, according to independent observers and publicly available election records," reads a statement issued yesterday by the US State Department.

Representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States also "strongly condemned" the repression taking place in Venezuela against civil society and members of the opposition, including opposition leader María Corina Machado.

Maduro took office on Friday for a third consecutive six-year term, despite the opposition claiming victory in July's presidential elections for candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who is currently in exile in Spain.

"In a democracy, no political leader should be forced to seek refuge outside their homeland. This unacceptable development highlights the urgent need for Venezuela to create an environment in which democratic participation can flourish without fear of reprisals," said the G7.

The bloc's leaders also expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and "deep concern" about "the arbitrary arrests and other abuses against civilians, including children, young people and activists, following the peaceful democratic protests that took place after the elections and which continue to this day".

The G7 called for a peaceful process of transition of power and "a peaceful and democratic solution" for the country that respects "the democratic will of the Venezuelan people expressed in the July elections." (CNN)