Message was released after diplomat arrived in Spain; Maduro’s opponent received political asylum in the European country
Venezuelan opposition’s main candidate, Edmundo González (Democratic Unitary Platform, center-right), said in an audio recording that he will continue “the fight for freedom and the recovery of democracy” in the South American country. The message was released after the diplomat arrived in Spain, this Sunday (8.Sep.2024).
Here is González’s statement:
“Dear friends, first of all, I would like to extend my cordial and affectionate greetings, along with my words of gratitude for the expressions of solidarity received from so many of you. I would like to inform you that I arrived in Madrid this morning.
“My departure from Caracas was surrounded by episodes of pressure, coercion and threats not to allow my departure. I trust that soon we will continue the fight for freedom and the recovery of democracy in Venezuela. A big hug to everyone.”
Edmundo González is an opponent of President Nicolás Maduro (United Socialist Party of Venezuela, left) and has received political asylum from Spain.
The Venezuelan justice system, controlled by Maduro, ordered González’s arrest on September 2. The lawyer is accused of failing to comply with three subpoenas from the country’s Public Prosecutor’s Office to clarify the release of electoral records from the July 28, 2024 election, although the documents are public in democratic countries with free elections.
On August 5, González declared himself the winner of the election.
VENEZUELA UNDER MADURO
Venezuela lives under an autocracy led by Nicolas Maduro61 years old. There is no freedom of the press. People can be arrested for “political crimes”. The OAS (Organization of American States) published notice in May 2021 (PDF – 179 kB) regarding the “illegitimate appointment” of the National Electoral Council.
THE Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported abuses in October 2022 (PDF – 150 kB), November 2022 (PDF – 161 kB) and March 2023 (PDF – 151 kB). Report from Human Rights Watch disclosed in 2023 (PDF – 5 MB) states that 7.1 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2014.
Maduro denies that the country is under a dictatorship. He says that there are regular elections and that the opposition simply cannot win.
The presidential elections held on July 28, 2024 are contested by part of the international community. The main opposition leader, Maria Corinawas barred in June 2023 from holding public office for 15 years.
The Venezuelan Supreme Court upheld the decision in January 2024. It claimed “administrative irregularities” that were allegedly committed when she was a deputy, from 2011 to 2014, and by “corruption plot” for supporting Juan Guaidó.
Corina indicated the ally Corina Yoris to run. However, she was unable to formalize her candidacy due to an alleged failure in the electoral system. Therefore, the diplomat Edmund Gonzalez assumed the role of being the main opposition candidate.
Venezuela’s government-controlled National Electoral Council announced Maduro’s victory on July 28, 2024. The body confirmed the result on August 2, 2024, but did not release the ballots. The Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice, controlled by the current regime, said on August 22, 2024 that the ballots would not be released.
The Carter Center, a respected organization created by former US President Jimmy Carter, considered that the elections in Venezuela “were not democratic”. Read the full (in English – PDF – 107 kB) of the statement.
The results have been subsequently challenged by European Union and by several countries individually, such as the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. Brazil has not yet recognized Maduro’s election in 2024, but it has not made harsher demands like other countries that point to fraud in the process. The president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) even said he had not seen anything abnormal in the country’s election.
Human Rights Watch criticized Presidents Lula, Gustavo Petro (Colombia) and Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Mexico) in August 2024. In a letter sent to the three, it stated that they needed to reconsider their positions on Venezuela. It also disagreed with the leaders’ proposals to resolve the impasse, such as holding a new election and granting a general amnesty. Read the full of the document (PDF – 2 MB).
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