A transition. The opposition in Venezuela is betting on that to win the presidential elections on July 28. Edmundo Gonzalez It is the opponent’s token to beat Nicholas Ripe given the impossibility of applying for María Corina Machado, disqualified by the Government.
(Also read: ‘Maduro should listen more to Petro than to Díaz Canel and Ortega’: Enrique Márquez, Venezuelan opposition candidate, speaks)
Incidentally, EL TIEMPO spoke with González, a 74-year-old diplomat who aspires to beat the Venezuelan leader. With a tight schedule, the candidate granted a few minutes of interview. During the conversation he insisted on the importance of recovering democracy and the fundamental support of countries like Colombia.
“We are also aware of the risks involved, but if things progress as before, the victory of the democratic opposition candidacy in Venezuela would be assured on July 28.”
Are you sure that there will be elections in Venezuela?
What makes you think that the Government could place some obstacles?
As it has done in the past, preventing the use of public transportation, preventing opposition candidates from registering, closing space for opposition candidates.
Speaking of unity, did you imagine that you were going to be the Unity candidate? What other names were taken into account before arriving at yours?
This was absolutely unexpected for me and certainly not intended. I was close to the Democratic Platform all the time. I was working for many years in the coordination of International Relations of the Democratic Unity Roundtable. Several names had been considered, I understand that the Platform’s own executive secretary, Dr. Omar Barbosa, was one of the most famous. But finally they decided on my name, which I accepted as a contribution to Venezuela’s democratic commitment.
There has been talk that if the opposition wins, there will be a transition process. What guarantees does Edmundo González offer Nicolás Maduro?
There are many things we could invoke. We are convinced of this victory that would open the way for the institutionalization of democracy in Venezuela. It is not about persecuting anyone, here it is not about suspending the political activity of the opponents, here it is about the opponent being seen as an adversary but never as a political enemy, therefore, we ask that this transition be do it in peace and with guarantees for all Venezuelans, from here there will be no persecution because of their color.
Along these lines, the Colombian foreign minister has also spoken of transition. Has any representative of the Colombian Government met with you?
What role do President Petro and President Lula play in this process?
They are two key actors who are highly respected in the country and who have the full confidence of President Maduro, so I assume that these two visions will be taken into account in President Maduro’s government. They are two political leaders and presidents of two brother countries who are very interested in achieving peace in Venezuela, achieving democratic institutionalization and installing a government with whom they can dialogue in political terms.
Can we find out what the keys to this proposal that Petro is going to present have been?
I can’t tell you that part because I haven’t participated in those conversations.
Regarding the campaign, we have seen that María Corina Machado has been the one leading everything. Will we see it on the street at some point?
Yes. I am going to start next Saturday with a tour at 10 in the morning and it is very likely that not only María Corina is participating in all these tours around the country, there are the other political leaders of the 14 organizations that are part of the Platform.
What role is María Corina Machado going to play in your Government?
Whatever role she wants to play. She is a political leader who was highly voted in the primary elections, a fundamental leader in Venezuela and respected by all political circles here in the country.
What would be the call you make to the international community?
They should be very aware of this process in Venezuela because it is vital for Venezuela and also for the international community.
ANA MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ BRAZÓN – EL TIEMPO CORRESPONDENT – CARACAS
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