Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia He assured today that he will go “soon” to Venezuela, but did not specify the date on which he would return to his country.
González Urrutia had told the media on several occasions that he would be sworn in as president of Venezuela on January 10, the date on which the president of that nation, Nicoláas Maduro, is scheduled to be sworn in.
The politician made the statement upon arriving today at the National Palace of the Dominican Republic accompanied by eight former presidents of Latin America, to later be received by President Luis Abinader.
He arrived at the National Palace after 11:00 in the morning and entered the presidential headquarters through the parking area.
Later, the official photo was taken on the steps of the Government House, along with his companions.
The delegation that accompanies him is made up of the former presidents of Colombia, Andrés Pastrana; Ecuador, Jorge Jamil Mahuad; Dominican Republic, Hipólito Mejía; Mexico, Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderón; Bolivia, Jorge Quiroga; Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla Miranda and the general secretary of Grupo IDEA, Asdrúbal Aguiar.
This is the last stop on his international tour of the Americas.
Former candidate González Urrutia
González Urrutia, former presidential candidate of Venezuela, arrived last night on Dominican soil from Panama, through the Las Américas airport, where yesterday he had a meeting with the president of that nation, José Raúl Mulino, who expressed the “moral and political support” of his government.
According to the Presidency, the central purpose of González Urrutia’s visit is to express firm support for democracy, human rights and institutions in Venezuela.
He adds that the Venezuelan opponent will be accompanied by a delegation of eight former presidents who are members of the IDEA Group and its general secretary.
The act of support for González Urrutia began at the National Palace after 11:00 in the morning and was focused on the challenges and opportunities to strengthen democracy in Venezuela.
President Abinader held a private audience with González Urrutia and the former presidents, where he addressed issues related to Venezuela, the challenges for democracy in the region and the opportunities for a peaceful and orderly transition.
The “Act to support democracy in Venezuela” had the participation of eight former Latin American presidents.
The tour seeks to consolidate the support of the international community against the Maduro regime’s attempts to remain in power with a swearing-in scheduled for January 10.
After 10:00 p.m. local time, González Urrutia arrived at the International Airport of the Americas on a flight from Panama, where he delivered into custody the electoral records that certify his victory in the elections held on July 28.
The anti-Chavista leader was received in the Hall of Ambassadors by Francisco Cantizano Nadal, director of State Ceremonial and Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic (MIREXRD).
Former presidents of the IDEA Group supported González Urrutia and demanded respect for the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people
Former presidents of IDEA Group supported González Urrutia and demanded respect for the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people
He arrived in the company of the former mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, and the OAS commissioner for the Venezuelan migrant and refugee crisis, David Smolansky.
The event was attended by eight former Latin American presidents, including Hipólito Mejía (Dominican Republic), Laura Chinchilla (Costa Rica) and Felipe Calderón (Mexico), as well as the general secretary of the IDEA Group, Asdrúbal Aguiar.
The act reaffirms international support for the Venezuelan opposition after the election results and the repression of dissent by the Maduro regime.
The Dominican government closed its embassy in Caracas on July 30, one day after the Chavista dictatorship withdrew its representatives in Santo Domingo, following criticism from Abinader for irregularities in the Venezuelan elections.
In an event with foreign ministers and former presidents of the region, Panama also received in custody the electoral records that prove the triumph of González Urrutia.
The minutes, published on a website, are disqualified by the Chavista regime as “false”, while the National Electoral Council (CNE) has not yet published the disaggregated results, failing to comply with its own schedule.
González Urrutia’s tour included visits to Argentina, Uruguay, the United States, Panama and now the Dominican Republic, with a view to next Friday, January 10, the date on which he will assume the reins of Venezuela.
