Following his claim of victory in last year’s Venezuelan presidential election, Edmundo González Urrutia met with President Biden on Monday to seek support for the removal of Nicolás Maduro from office.

The meeting at the White House saw González Urrutia, representing Venezuela’s main opposition coalition, urge support for his efforts to oust Maduro before the start of the next presidential term on Friday.

“We had a productive and cordial discussion with President Biden and his team,” González Urrutia stated to reporters. “We expressed gratitude for U.S. support in our fight for Venezuela’s democratic recovery and reaffirmed our commitment to this cause until the end of the president’s term.”

A White House statement confirmed the meeting, focusing on shared goals for restoring democracy in Venezuela.

“President Biden highlighted the inspiration drawn from millions of Venezuelans who bravely voted for democratic change in the deeply flawed July 28th election, as evidenced by voting tally sheets showing González Urrutia’s substantial victory,” the statement read. “Both leaders agreed that respecting the people’s will through transparent processes is crucial for a successful democracy, and that González Urrutia’s electoral win should be honored through a peaceful transition to democratic rule.

“Both leaders also expressed serious concern about Nicolás Maduro’s unacceptable and indiscriminate repression of peaceful protesters, democracy activists, and civil society,” the statement continued, adding that the U.S. remains committed to holding Maduro and his representatives accountable for their actions and will collaborate with international partners.

González Urrutia’s American tour, which began Saturday with visits to Uruguay and Argentina, included a call for a demonstration outside the Organization of American States offices in Washington.

While González Urrutia seeks support for Maduro’s removal, the National Assembly has invited Maduro to be sworn in for a sixth term on Friday. This follows the National Electoral Council’s declaration of Maduro’s victory in the July 28th election, despite concerns about the council’s impartiality.

Unlike previous elections, detailed vote counts weren’t released. However, opposition-obtained tally sheets from over 80% of voting machines, posted online, allegedly show González Urrutia winning by a significant margin.

Consequently, the U.S. and most European nations have rejected the official election results, recognizing González Urrutia as the legitimate winner. The Carter Center, which observed the election, has also validated the opposition’s tally sheets.

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello responded to González Urrutia’s actions with insults and threats of arrest, reiterating Maduro’s impending inauguration.

Cabello, calling González Urrutia a “coward” and a CIA agent, declared that González Urrutia would be arrested upon returning to Venezuela.

González Urrutia, a former diplomat, fled to Spain in September following an arrest warrant related to the publication of election tally sheets. A $100,000 reward for information about his location was also offered by the Venezuelan government.

González Urrutia informed reporters that his campaign has been in contact with President-elect Trump’s team.