WASHINGTON, Jan 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The United States referred to Venezuelan opposition politician Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the country's "rightful president" on Wednesday, Washington's latest rejection of leader Nicolas Maduro's third term.

Gonzalez Urrutia, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and top US diplomat Marco Rubio spoke in a phone call where Rubio "reaffirmed the United States' support for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela as well as the immediate release of all political prisoners," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.

In the statement, the State Department referred to the now-exiled Gonzalez Urrutia as "the rightful president of Venezuela."

The United States, European Union and several of Venezuela's democratic neighbors have refused to recognize Maduro's claim to have won reelection to a third six-year term in last year's polls.

The opposition says its tally of results from the July vote showed a clear victory for 75-year-old Gonzalez Urrutia, who went into exile in Spain in September after a crackdown on dissent.

Former US president Joe Biden, who left office on Monday, had also referred to Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuela's rightful leader, calling him the "president-elect."

Gonzalez Urrutia was in the United States recently, and attended President Donald Trump's inauguration.

During his first term, Trump imposed punishing sanctions on the country's vital oil sector and recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president in a failed bid to persuade Venezuela's military to ditch Maduro after fraud-tainted elections in 2018.

Some observers had speculated that Trump might take a softer approach on Maduro this time around, in hopes of reaching a deal on migration.

Crisis-mired Venezuela has seen seven million people, almost a quarter of its population, flee abroad, with many making their way toward the United States.

During Rubio's confirmation hearing, however, the diplomat blasted Venezuela's current government, signaling a potentially hardline stance for the next four years.