Edmundo González Urrutia assures that he received the elections of July 28. Who’s the “elected president” of Venezuela? Taking energy at all times appeared inconceivable, first from hiding and now in Spanish exile.
The discreet profession diplomat, 75 years previous, was the random candidate of the Venezuelan opposition after the charismatic María Corina Machado was politically disqualified. He by no means sought elected workplace.He was not a visual face of the anti-Chaviste forces.
With out even searching for it, González Urrutia exchanged his anonymity immediately for the lights of the electoral marketing campaign and an election that, in accordance with the Unitarian Platform coalition, swept away nearly 70% of the vote.
Regardless of it, Nicolás Maduro was topped winner for the third time in a row The time period of workplace lasted six years (2025-2031) and since then accusations and nice stress have been made in opposition to the opposition candidate.
Since July 30, he has been in hiding, showing combative on social networks and questioning Maduro's authority. An arrest warrant had been in place in opposition to him since September 2nd. after ignoring three summonses to testify earlier than prosecutors that he claimed had political overtones.
Supporters of the previous opposition candidate for the presidency of Venezuela, Edmundo González Urrutia, converse with a member of the Nationwide Police on the gate of the Torrejón de Ardoz air base (Madrid). Photograph EFEHe was requested for “obedience of the regulation”, “conspiracy” and “assumption of workplace”whereas Maduro and his authorities attacked him from all sides, frequently calling him a “coward,” “unclean,” and “Nazi,” and blaming him for the post-election violence that left 27 individuals useless.
“His life was at risk, and the growing threats, summons, arrest warrants and even makes an attempt at blackmail and coercion to which he was subjected present that the regime is aware of no scruples or limits in its obsession with silencing and subjugating him,” Machado wrote this Sunday in X. “Within the face of this brutal actuality, it’s vital for our trigger to protect his freedom, his integrity and his life.”
“I by no means, by no means, by no means imagined being on this place,” González Urrutia informed AFP in April. “That is my contribution to the democratic trigger.”
His candidacy for the Unity Platform coalition was initially non permanent, which is thought in Venezuela as a “cowl candidate,” however it was finally maintained by placing his face on the poll and having Machado journey the nation to marketing campaign on his behalf.
“What they didn't know was that this 'lid' would turn into a bottle”he remembered with a smile.
González Urrutia was born in La Victoriaa small city about 110 km from Caracas, the place one of the heroic battles of the Warfare of Independence befell in 1812. He grew up and studied there till he moved to the capital to check.
He graduated in Worldwide Research from the celebrated Central College of Venezuela (UCV) after which joined the Ministry of International Affairs.
In his dwelling workplace there’s a poster with a Latin phrase: “Verba volant, scripta manent.”
“I labored with an envoy who informed me: 'The whole lot written stays, and the phrases fly'”explains the that means of this sentence.
González Urrutia is the writer and author of books on Venezuela and its worldwide relations. His library contains “The Anatomy of Energy” by John Kenneth Galbraith, “The Conflict of Civilizations” by Samuel Huntington and “China” by Henry Kissinger.
As a diplomat he lived in Belgium and america.
He was ambassador to Algeria (1994–99) and Argentina (1999–2002). and though he has lived outdoors Venezuela for a few years, he at all times emphasizes that he is aware of the nation properly.
In his sudden political profession He by no means appeared significantly snug within the highlightHe learn his speeches monotonously and barely improvised. He most well-liked to go away the principle position to Machado.
Nevertheless, he at all times appeared reasonable, calling for reconciliation and mentioning potential amnesties within the pursuits of transition.
“He’s an honest Venezuelan, a democrat and a servant of the Republic”Ramón Guillermo Aveledo, former secretary of the opposition coalition, described it.
“He’s a cultured, trustworthy, reliable man, with out duplicity and with out a trace of populism,” wrote analyst Toro Hardy, after describing him as “he” “the antithesis of Chavismo, Madurismo and the standard politician.”
Now he joins the ranks of opposition leaders in exile. Gone had been the afternoons on the balcony of his home with the macaws, from the place he communicated together with his grandchildren who lived in a neighboring constructing.