The Venezuelan opponent Edmundo González Urrutiawho claims his electoral victory over Nicolás Maduro in 2024, arrived in Argentina on Friday (3) for a meeting with the president Javier Miley. The meeting should take place this Saturday morning (4) at Casa Rosada. The Venezuelan community in Argentina was invited to gather in the central Plaza de Mayo.
González intends to meet in the coming days with right-wing leaders on the continent to gather support for his attempt to return to Venezuela for the inauguration of the new presidential term, scheduled for January 10.
Dictator Nicolás Maduro is expected to take office for a third term next week after declaring himself the winner of the election in July, amid several suspicions of fraud. Several countries, including Brazil, do not recognize the results of the election.
González’s visit takes place while Venezuelan authorities are offering a reward of 100 thousand dollars (620 thousand reais at current exchange rates) for information leading to his arrest and amid escalating tension between the countries following the arrest of an Argentine soldier in Venezuela. González went into exile in Spain in September and promised to return to his country to “take office” in Maduro’s place.
After the meeting with Milei, González Urrutia will travel to Montevideo to meet with the Uruguayan president, Luis Lacalle Pou, and the chancellor, Omar Paganini.
The meeting on Saturday afternoon in the Executive Tower (headquarters of the Presidency), according to government sources, will be a “sign of support” for the Venezuelan opponent’s claims regarding the electoral results in his country.
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Political asylum
On December 20, Spain granted political asylum to González Urrutia, accused by the Venezuelan Public Ministry of “conspiracy” and “criminal association”. He went into exile in Madrid on September 8.
Venezuelan electoral authorities proclaimed Maduro re-elected for a third consecutive six-year term (2025-2031), without disclosing details of the vote count. The opposition denounces fraud and claims the victory of González Urrutia based on electoral records published on the internet.
Argentina does not recognize Maduro’s reelection, as do the United States, the European Union and several Latin American countries.
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His proclamation sparked protests that left 28 dead and around 200 injured, in addition to 2,400 detained. Three inmates died in prison and nearly 1,400 were released on parole.
Maduro is preparing to take office with the support of the Armed Forces, whose high command has declared “absolute loyalty” to him.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with Urrutia in September and October. In December, the European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to him and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado for their “efforts to restore freedom and democracy” in Venezuela.
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Military detained
The Argentine Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it had reported Venezuela to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the “arbitrary arrest and forced disappearance” of soldier Nahuel Gallo, 33, on December 8 for “terrorism”. He also requested precautionary measures in favor of Gallo from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil criticized the complaint to the ICC as a “regrettable spectacle”.
The diplomatic relationship between Milei and Maduro was already tense, but completely collapsed after the electoral result was not recognized.
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The Argentine embassy in Caracas – under Brazilian custody – has been housing six of Machado’s collaborators since March, accused of “terrorism”. One of them resigned from asylum on December 20, left the legation and surrendered to authorities. The remaining five are awaiting safe conduct to leave the country.
