Biden meets with Venezuelan opposition leader who declared victory over Maduro.

On Monday, Edmundo González Urrutia, the Venezuelan opposition leader who won the presidential election last year, met with President Biden to seek his support in removing current President Nicolás Maduro from power.

Biden and González Urrutia met at the White House to discuss the removal of Maduro from office in Venezuela's upcoming presidential election.

"González Urrutia stated that they had a productive and amicable discussion with President Biden and his team. They expressed gratitude to the US government for its support in their struggle for democratic restoration in Venezuela. This pledge will remain with them and they will continue to uphold it until the end of the president's term."

Officials from the White House stated that the two leaders discussed collaborative efforts to revive democracy in Venezuela.

President Biden and the Venezuelan leader agreed that respecting the will of the people is crucial to the success of democracy, as demonstrated through a transparent and accountable electoral process. Gonzalez Urrutia's campaign victory should be honored through a peaceful transfer back to democratic rule.

"The leaders also expressed deep concern about Maduro and his representatives' unacceptable and indiscriminate use of repression against peaceful protesters, democracy activists, and civil society. Biden reiterated his support for Venezuela's democratic aspirations and underscored the U.S. commitment to continue to hold Maduro and his representatives accountable for their anti-democratic and repressive actions, including by working closely with democratic allies in the hemisphere and around the world."

On Saturday, González Urrutia embarked on a tour of the Americas, visiting Uruguay and Argentina.

On Monday, González Urrutia's team urged Venezuelans in the area to assemble outside the Organization of American States' offices in Washington, prior to his scheduled stop.

The National Assembly has invited Maduro to be sworn in for a sixth term on Friday, five months after the National Electoral Council declared him the winner of the July 28 election, despite the Associated Press reporting that the council was filled with loyalists to Maduro's party.

Unlike previous presidential elections, election officials did not release detailed vote counts. However, the opposition obtained tally sheets from over 80% of electronic voting machines in the country and posted them online. Additionally, the opposition stated that the tally sheets indicate that González Urrutia won the election with twice as many votes as Maduro.

Most European governments, including the U.S., have rejected the official election results and consider González Urrutia the legitimate winner.

The Carter Center, invited by Maduro's government to observe the presidential election, has stated that the tally sheets posted online by González Urrutia are legitimate.

According to the AP, Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela's Interior Minister, responded to queries about González Urrutia's plans by insulting and attacking the politician, and even threatening him with arrest.

Cabello insisted Maduro would be sworn in as president on Friday.

"The retired diplomat was labeled a "coward" by Cabello, who accused him of being a CIA agent without providing any evidence. According to Cabello, the diplomat lacks both courage and disposition. González Urrutia is aware that he will be arrested as soon as he sets foot in Venezuela."

In September, Urrutia left Venezuela for Spain to avoid an arrest warrant issued by a judge investigating the release of election tally sheets.

Last week, the Venezuelan government offered a $100,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of a fugitive.

On Monday, González Urrutia disclosed that his campaign has been communicating with President-elect Trump's team.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.