Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, a 76-year-old former diplomat recognized by some countries as the winner of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, said on Saturday that Venezuela should hold new presidential elections and threw his support behind Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
What did Gonzalez say?
In a video message posted on social media, Gonzalez expressed solidarity with fellow opposition leader Machado, who is also advocating for new elections.
“A few days ago in Panama, María Corina Machado and the Venezuelan democratic forces came together with the same goal: the independence of Venezuela. We stand together, united on the same roadmap to a common destiny,” González said.
He said, “My commitment is to do everything in my power to ensure that the mandate becomes real freedom, real democracy.”
González said the election process should have “independent referees”, political pluralism and both national and international observers. He said the time has come to “create conditions for holding presidential elections that will serve as citizens’ means for change.”
Machado praised Gonzalez on Saturday as “an example of service and dedication to the motherland.”
“The free and prosperous Venezuela that is already being reborn, my dear Edmundo, has your name engraved on its heart,” Machado wrote on the social media platform X.
What is Venezuela’s current political predicament?
Maduro has since been replaced by acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who appears more willing to accede to Washington’s demands, such as improving US access to Venezuela’s vast oil supplies. US President Donald Trump has been pleased with Rodriguez’s cooperation so far and has taken no further action to change his leadership.
Gonzalez, a 76-year-old former diplomat living in Spain, had to compete against Maduro in the 2024 presidential election.
Machado was barred from running in the 2024 race.
Maduro’s administration had issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez on charges of criminal cooperation and conspiracy in the disputed elections. Machado is also considered a fugitive by the Venezuelan government.
Although official results showed Maduro won the 2024 race, outside election observers and watchdogs such as the Carter Center and Freedom House found that the results lacked credibility and that the electoral processes were plagued with irregularities.
Some countries, such as the United States, recognized Gonzalez as the winner of the 2024 race.
Edited by: Shawn Sinico