Venezuela's government Sunday doubled down on its intention to arrest the opposition leader who claims he defeated President Nicolás Maduro in last year's election in the form of a threat from the ruling party-controlled congress.

Venezuelan opposition politician Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia fled his country after a tumultuous election and subsequent police crackdown.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Monday with leaders of Venezuela's democratic opposition to reaffirm U.S. support for the Venezuelan people and their votes "expressed at the ballot box."

González, who the United States recognized as the winner of last year's presidential election in Venezuela, kicked off an international tour on Saturday that will take him to Washington.