Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia Calls For New Presidential Elections In Venezuela

Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the 76-year-old former diplomat living in exile in Spain, called on Saturday for Venezuela to hold new presidential elections as the five-month mark of interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s administration approaches.

“Venezuela's opposition candidate Edmundo González calls for presidential elections”

Associated Press

Gonzalez Urrutia threw his support behind Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who wants fresh elections in the oil-rich South American nation.

Associated Press

In a video message posted on social media, Gonzalez Urrutia said, “A few days ago in Panama, Maria Corina Machado and Venezuela’s democratic forces came together with a single goal: Venezuela’s freedom.”

He added, “My commitment is to do everything in my power to ensure that mandate becomes real freedom, real democracy,” as the opposition continues to dispute the July 28, 2024 presidential election results.

The announcement could add pressure on Venezuelan authorities and Washington following Maduro’s ouster in January by a US military raid, after US forces captured Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

Machado praised Gonzalez Urrutia on Saturday as “an example of service and dedication to the homeland,” and posted on X that “The free and prosperous Venezuela that is already being reborn, my dear Edmundo, has your name imprinted on its heart.”

Gonzalez Urrutia said the election process should have “independent referees,” political pluralism and both national and international observers.

DW

He argued it is time “to build the conditions for holding presidential elections that serve as citizens instruments for change,” while the BBC reported the government’s current political predicament under Maduro’s replacement by Acting President Delcy Rodriguez.

The Hindu described Gonzalez’s message as coming just shy of the five-month anniversary of Rodriguez assuming power on Jan. 5, following the arrest of Maduro and his wife, who are being prosecuted in the United States.

Neither Caracas nor Washington has given any indication that elections are imminent in Venezuela, according to The Hindu and Associated Press.

Gonzalez Urrutia’s call for elections comes amid a dispute over who won the July 2024 vote, with the opposition alleging massive fraud and the electoral council that never published detailed polling results declaring Nicolas Maduro the winner.

“Opposition candidate in Venezuela 2024 election calls for new vote CARACAS — Venezuela’s opposition candidate who was recognized by the United States and others as the actual winner of the 2024 election against Nicolas Maduro, called on Saturday for a new vote”

Saudi Gazette

The Associated Press reported that Gonzalez said an electoral process must have “independent referees,” national and international observation and political pluralism, with the release of political prisoners and “an end to the persecution” being non-negotiable.

The Straits Times said Gonzalez Urrutia’s announcement could add pressure on Venezuelan authorities and Washington to address growing demands for a democratic transition following Maduro’s ouster in January by a US military raid.

The Saudi Gazette reported that the exiled Machado is considered a fugitive by the Venezuelan government, which accuses her of calling for military intervention against the country.

In the background of the political standoff, The Hindu said Rodriguez was recognized as President by the administration of US President Donald Trump, and that the two countries have made progress on agreements including the lifting of sanctions and negotiations in the oil and energy sectors, as well as the normalization of diplomatic relations.