Venezuelan Opposition Leader González Urrutia Backs New Presidential Elections for 'Real Democracy'

Edmundo González Urrutia, whom the Venezuelan opposition regards as the legitimately elected president following the contested 2024 elections, has declared his support for new presidential elections to establish "real democracy." Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner of the July 28 vote, an outcome the opposition alleges was fraudulent.

“

A few days ago in Panama, María Corina Machado and the democratic forces of Venezuela met with a single purpose: the freedom of Venezuela. We are together, united on the same roadmap towards the same destination.

From his exile in Spain, the 76-year-old former diplomat also voiced his backing for opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado. Machado has been demanding a new election since Maduro's capture during a U.S. military operation in January. González Urrutia stated in a video shared on social media, "A few days ago in Panama, María Corina Machado and the democratic forces of Venezuela met with a single purpose: the freedom of Venezuela. We are together, united on the same roadmap towards the same destination."

Machado had previously expressed her "determination" to negotiate a democratic transition with the interim government to secure "a free, transparent, and sovereign presidential election." González Urrutia ran as Machado's substitute in the July 28 elections after she was disqualified from running. The opposition claims González Urrutia won the presidency and has made public copies of over 80% of the vote count records, which the ruling party dismisses.

“

The mandate of July 28 is Venezuela's. I am its custodian, not its owner, and as a custodian my commitment is to do everything in my hands to make that mandate become real freedom, real democracy.

González Urrutia, who fled to Spain in September 2024 following an arrest warrant, described himself as a custodian of the mandate from the July 28 election. "As a custodian, my commitment is to do everything in my power to ensure that mandate becomes real freedom, real democracy," he said. He emphasized that recognizing the need for a new presidential electoral process honors the will of a people yearning for freedom.

“

Recognizing the need for a presidential electoral process is, for me, honoring the will of an entire people who want freedom.