Speaking to the nation, the opponent once again claims that he won the elections and said that they have a “duty” to fulfill towards Venezuelans
The opposition candidate in Venezuela Edmundo González Urrutia (Democratic Unitary Platform, center-right) said this Friday (10 January 2025) that he is still looking for a way to return to Venezuela to take office as president.
“I am ready to make a safe entry at the appropriate time. I will make the votes that represent the recovery of our democracy count.”he declared.
The statement was made on the same day that Nicolás Maduro (United Socialist Party of Venezuela, left) took office as president. His re-election, however, is still contested by the opposition and international bodies.
In a video on X (formerly Twitter), González states that “represents the will of almost 8 million” and which has the “duty to defend this commitment”. González in October 2024 who would return to Venezuela to take office as president-elect.
“Today I am elected president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela thanks to the majority of votes cast at the polls. To the military and police bodies, I order you to cease repression.”said González.
The opposition candidate in 2024 also disqualified Maduro’s inauguration and said that the Chavista’s legitimacy as president “It is not supported by the people nor any government that is respected as a democracy. Only the dictators of Cuba, Congo and Nicaragua”.
González did not mention Brazil despite the government having the country’s ambassador in Caracas for the inauguration.
“I express my gratitude to the governments that recognize me as president-elect. Those who did not, I remind them that at this moment, in the midst of the struggle for freedom, there is no room for neutrality.”said González.
MANIFESTATION AND POSSESSION
Nicolás Maduro is inaugurated this Friday as president-elect of Venezuela. The opposition and representatives contest the results released by the CNE (National Electoral Council) in July 2024.
Maduro reaffirmed his victory during his inauguration speech, claiming that there was a “an evident public global conspiracy of US power” against Venezuela.
Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets against Maduro 1 day before his inauguration. Acts were recorded in Caracas, Mérida and Chacao. Former congresswoman María Corina Machado led the demonstrations. She is Maduro’s main opponent and is an ally of González.
CORINA PROTESTS AND RETENTION
Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets to oppose Maduro on Thursday (Jan. 9). The events were held in Caracas, Mérida and Chacao.
Images published on X (formerly Twitter) show citizens with Venezuelan flags and shouting words like “freedom” e “was a dictator” –in reference to Maduro. They also showed support for Edmundo González and displayed posters written “Edmundo president”.
During the events, the opposition leader, Maria Corina, was seen by security forces.
Read what the opposition and government said about the episode:
- María Corina’s team – supporters of the opponent claim that she was “intercepted and knocked off her motorcycle” when leaving an anti-government demonstration in Chacao. She would have been “Forcibly detained”forced to record and videos and later released. The action would have lasted around 1h30;
- Maduro government – members of the regime claim that the supposed retention was nothing more than a “fake news” created to cover up the “failure” of the anti-Maduro demonstrations held on Thursday (9 January) in Venezuela.
