Edmundo González Urrutiaa recognized Venezuelan opposition leader, has undertaken an extensive international tour with the aim of consolidating his position and obtaining greater support against the regime of Nicolás Maduro.
This tour seeks to add support from different governments at a critical moment for Venezuela, since Maduro intends to assume power on January 10. Maduro’s new term has been rejected by the majority of the international community, and was only recognized by other countries with contested regimes, such as Iran, Russia, Syria (by the overthrown Bashar al-Assad), Nicaragua, Indonesia, Korea North, Pakistan, or Serbia.
The tour began in Argentina, where González was received by the far-right president Javier Milei in Buenos Aires, highlighting his support for the opposition cause and recognizing González as the legitimate elected president of Venezuela.
Destination and challenges on his tour: What González Urrutia is looking for in Latin America
After having passed through Buenos Aires and Montevideo, González’s tour of Latin America includes visits to Dominican Republic, Panama and possibly to USA. Each stop aims to ensure international support, highlighting the importance of unity in the Latin American community in the face of the Venezuelan situation.
Tensions increase due to the announcement by the Maduro government, which offers a reward of $100,000 for information leading to González’s capture. This measure has been interpreted by many as an attempt to intimidation which reflects the shock of the regime. According to David Rico, an expert in political communication, “the arrest warrant demonstrates the government’s fear.”
International support on the rise
The recognition of González as “president-elect” has spread beyond Latin America, reaching Europe. He European Parliament and several countries on the continent, including Italyhave expressed their support.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, stated that together with the European Unionwork for a democratic transition in Venezuela, referring to González as the legitimate elected president. In addition, Ecuador and other nations like Costa Rica, Peruand Uruguay They had already expressed their recognition of González’s electoral victory shortly after the controversial July elections.
González’s agenda also includes potentially strategic meetings in the United States. There is the expectation of a possible meeting with prominent personalities, such as President Joe Biden. Furthermore, at the end of last year, the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenreaffirmed by telephone the US commitment to the peaceful return of democracy in Venezuela when talking with González and María Corina Machado.
González has visited other European nations, such as Portugal, Netherlands, Belgiumand Germanywhere he has found a favorable reception from his authorities, although they have not made direct statements that strengthen his position as the elected leader of Venezuela. However, these visits raise his international profile and highlight the growing support for his cause.
To this day, Maduro and the coerced National Electoral Council They have not shown the minutes with the numbers that, he claims, give him victoryeven though he promised to make them public and make them available to external and neutral scrutiny.
