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Edmundo González

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For the Chilean admiral, see Edmundo González Robles.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is González and the second or maternal family name is Urrutia.

Edmundo González
González in 2024
President-Elect of Venezuela
Assuming office
January 10, 2025
Vice PresidentMaría Corina Machado
SucceedingNicolas Maduro
Ambassador of Venezuela to Argentina
In office
1998–2002
Personal details
Born
Edmundo González Urrutia

(1949-08-29) 29 August 1949 (age 75)
La Victoria, Aragua, Venezuela
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		MUD (2013–2021)
PU (since 2021)
SpouseMercedes López de González
Children2
RelativesWenceslao Urrutia [es] (great-grandfather)
Residence(s)Madrid, Spain
Alma materCentral University of Venezuela
American University
OccupationDiplomat, politician

Edmundo González Urrutia (born 29 August 1949) is a Venezuelan politician, analyst, and diplomat who was elected as president of Venezuela in the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election. He is a member of the Unitary Platform political alliance. A national and international political crisis erupted following the Venezuelan government's announcement of the election results, which analysts argue were not based on the actual votes cast.[1][2] Most European countries and the US rejected the official results and recognized González as the election winner,[3][4][5] while a number of countries including Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and Cuba recognized Nicolás Maduro as the winner.[6][7]

Maduro did not cede power, and instead asked the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), composed of justices loyal to Maduro, to approve the results, which they did. An arrest warrant was issued for González, who was charged with "usurpation of functions, falsification of public documents, instigation to disobey the law, conspiracy and association";[8] he was granted asylum in Spain, leaving Venezuela on 7 September 2024.[9][10]

González has previously served as the Venezuelan ambassador to Argentina and Algeria. He also sits on the editorial board of El Nacional.[11][12]

He was awarded the Sakharov Prize in December 2024, alongside María Corina Machado.

Early life and education

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González was born in La Victoria, Aragua, in 1949 to a schoolteacher and shopkeeper.[13][14][15] He received a degree in international studies from the Central University of Venezuela and a Master of Arts in international relations from the American University in the United States in 1981.[14][16][17]

Diplomatic career

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González (right side) on 6 September 1994 in La Casona, in a meeting between presidents Rafael Caldera and Ernesto Samper, when he was a foreign ministry official

González began his diplomatic career working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela.[14] He was posted in El Salvador and Belgium before serving as a first secretary for the Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States in 1978.[15][18]

From 1991 to 1993, González served as the Venezuelan Ambassador to Algeria.[17] He was the Director General of International Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 1999.[17] In late February 1999,[19] González arrived in Argentina beside the newly inaugurated president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, when he presented his credentials to serve as ambassador.[20] While in Argentina, he promoted Venezuela's entry into Mercosur.[20] His posting as ambassador to Argentina ended in 2002.[17]

Political career

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From 2013 to 2015, González was the international representative for the Venezuelan opposition's political alliance, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (UMD).[17]

In the 2020s, González became the president of the opposition's political alliance, the Unitary Platform, the successor of MUD.[21][22]

Presidential candidacy

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Main article: 2024 Venezuelan presidential election

Background

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After the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared María Corina Machado–who won the 2023 Unitary Platform presidential primaries–ineligible for holding political office in the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election and Machado's alternate candidate Corina Yoris faced complications preventing her from filing her candidacy, González was entered as a Unitary Platform presidential candidate.[12] On 20 April, the other major opposition candidate Manuel Rosales suspended his candidacy and endorsed González.[23]

On 26 March 2024, the CNE confirmed that González was a candidate for the 2024 presidential election.[24]

Platform

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González stated in April 2024 in an interview with Agence France-Presse that "Venezuela must put aside [internal] struggles, political diatribe, confrontation, and we must all fight for Venezuela's recovery and transition. That is what's fundamental", arguing for his candidacy as one of "my contribution to unity, to the struggle for a democratic transition".[25]

González stated in the same interview that "I have no personal aspirations... never, never, never imagin[ing] I would be in this position, but that is secondary to the challenge ahead." González still refers to María Corina Machado as "the leader of the opposition" and "the leader of this unitary process".[26] González stated his goal to be "bring[ing] Venezuelans together (and) the return[ing] of political exiles" followed by "the recovery of the economy and of democracy".[25]

Election results

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Main article: 2024 Venezuelan presidential election

According to The Sunday Times González was "widely seen as the rightful winner" of a disputed election whose results announced by CNE electoral authorities—without providing evidence—cast Venezuela into a political crisis; most American democracies did not recognize Maduro as the winner, while "mostly authoritarian countries" including China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and North Korea did.[7]

The BBC and The Guardian reported that Peru was the first country to recognize González as Venezuela's president-elect, on 30 July[27][28]—a statement from the former Peruvian foreign minister that was corrected on 5 September by Peru's Council of Ministers after a new foreign minister was named.[29] Peruvian President Dina Boluarte reinforced on 6 September that Peru's position with respect to Venezuela had not changed under the new foreign minister, saying "We will not be part of an electoral fraud; we will not support a dictatorial government."[30]

On 1 August, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that there was "overwhelming evidence" that González won the presidential election.[31][32] On 2 August, Argentina recognized González as president-elect, while Uruguayan Foreign Minister Omar Paganini stated that there was an “overwhelming amount of information” whereby González may be considered the winner of the elections. On the same day, Costa Rica also recognized González’s victory in the Venezuelan elections over Nicolás Maduro.[33][34][35] By 4 August, Ecuador and Panama also recognized Edmundo González's victory.[36]

Maduro did not acknowledge the results which showed him losing the election or cede power,[37] and instead asked the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), composed of justices loyal to Maduro,[38][39][40][41] to audit and approve the results.[42][43] On 22 August, as anticipated,[42][40][41] the TSJ described the CNE's statement of Maduro winning the election as "validated".[44]

Exile in Spain

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Main article: 2024 Venezuelan political crisis

An arrest warrant was issued on 2 September for González for the alleged crimes of "usurpation of functions, falsification of public documents, instigation to disobey the law, conspiracy and association".[8] After the election, González sought refuge secretly in the Dutch Embassy through 5 September,[2][45] after which he spent several days in the Spanish embassy in Caracas, and was granted asylum, leaving on a Spanish Armed Forces flight on 7 September 2024.[46] His wife accompanied him on the flight to Madrid, where they would join a daughter who lives there.[47] González, along with María Corina Machado, was awarded the Sakharov Prize on 24 October.[48]

Political views

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González has been described as a centrist and an apolitical "consensus maker".[16]

Attitude towards Maduro

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González was apolitical during his diplomatic service, working for both Hugo Chávez and Carlos Andrés Pérez. While González worked against the Chávez–Maduro administrations, his attitude has been described as conciliatory. While former presidential candidate María Corina Machado supported prosecution of the human rights abuses of the Maduro government, González has repeatedly supported talks with Maduro.[49]

Personal life

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González is married to Mercedes López de González,[15] and has four grandchildren.

References

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  1. ^ Kurmanaev, Anatoly (6 August 2024). "Venezuela's Strongman Was Confident of Victory. Then Came the Shock". New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b Rueda, Jorge; Goodman, Joshua; Wilson, Joseph (8 September 2024). "Opposition presidential candidate González flees Venezuela for asylum in Spain". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  3. ^ Wells, Ione (2 August 2024). "Overwhelming evidence Venezuela opposition won election - Blinken". BBC News. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  4. ^ Jones, Sam (29 July 2024). "'Hard to believe': Venezuela election result met with suspicion abroad". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Leaders across Americas react to Venezuela election results". Reuters. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  6. ^ Schmidt, Samantha; Sands, Leo; Herrero, Vanessa (29 July 2024). "World leaders cast doubt on Maduro's claim of victory in Venezuelan election". The Washington Post. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b Gibbs, Stephen (8 September 2024). "Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González flees to Spain". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b Sequera, Vivian; Armas, Mayela (2 September 2024). "Venezuela issues arrest warrant for opposition leader Gonzalez, AG says". Reuters. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Opposition presidential candidate González flees Venezuela for asylum in Spain". AP News. 8 September 2024.
  10. ^ Cantero, Ana; Sequera, Vivian (9 September 2024). "Venezuela opposition leader Gonzalez lands in Spain seeking asylum". Reuters. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Perfil: Edmundo González Urrutia, candidato de la MUD". El Universal (in Spanish). 26 March 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b "¿Quién es Edmundo González Urrutia, el candidato "tapa" de la MUD?". El Nacional. 27 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Entry Encabezamiento personal › Biblioteca Universidad Monteávila catalog". Universidad Monteávila. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  14. ^ a b c González Urrutia, Edmundo (2008). Caracciolo Parra Pérez, 1888–1964 (in Spanish). Caracas: El Nacional. ISBN 9789803952211. Edmundo González Urrutia - La Victoria, estado Aragua (1949). Graduado en la Escuela de Estudios Internacionales de la UCV. Estudios de postgrado en la American University en Washington DC, donde obtuvo el título de Master of Arts in International Affairs (1981). Funcionario de carrera del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. Fue director general de Análisis y Planificación Estratégica, embajador de Venezuela en Argentina, director general de Política Internacional, embajador de Venezuela en Argelia.
  15. ^ a b c Glatsky, Genevieve; Herrera, Isayen; Fernandez, Adriana Loureiro (6 May 2024). "Meet the Candidate Challenging Venezuela's Authoritarian President". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Geopolítica de Chávez: la globalización y el imperio". Diálogo Político (in Spanish) (4). Konrad Adenauer Foundation: 121–138. December 2011.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Perfil | Edmundo González Urrutia, el candidato tapa de la oposición para las presidenciales". El Pitazo. 26 March 2024.
  18. ^ Diplomatic List: Volume 202 of Department of State publication: Department and Foreign Service series. United States Department of State. 1978. p. 69. Mr. Edmundo GONZALEZ-URRUTIA; Mrs. Gonzalez-Urrutia First Secretary
  19. ^ "Memoria Académica 1999". CARI. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  20. ^ a b "El embajador de Venezuela visitó ayer LA NACION". La Nación (in Spanish). 2 March 1999. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  21. ^ Rodríguez Rosas, Ronny (3 April 2024). "Plataforma Unitaria confirma que CNE aceptó candidatura de Edmundo González". Efecto Cocuyo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia: Meet the quiet, bird-loving grandfather taking on strongman Maduro in Venezuela's election | CNN". 8 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  23. ^ ADeBarros (20 April 2024). "La CARTA de renuncia de Manuel Rosales como candidato para las presidenciales (Documento)". AlbertoNews - Periodismo sin censura (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Venezuela: la principal alianza opositora logra registrar una candidatura presidencial". El Comercio (in Spanish). 26 March 2024. ISSN 1605-3052. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Time for 'democratic transition' in Venezuela, says opposition candidate". www.batimes.com.ar. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Time for 'democratic transition' in Venezuela: opposition candidate to AFP". RFI. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Perú se convierte en el primer país en considerar a Edmundo González como 'presidente electo' de Venezuela" [Peru becomes the first country to consider Edmundo González as 'president-elect' of Venezuela] (in Spanish). BBC News Mundo. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  28. ^ Phillips, Tom; Gambino, Lauren (31 July 2024). "Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro blames unrest on far-right conspiracy as isolation grows". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  29. ^ "Consejo de Ministros de Perú aclaró que su gobierno no ha reconocido a Edmundo González como presidente electo de Venezuela" [Peru's Council of Ministers clarified that its government has not recognized Edmundo González as the elected president of Venezuela]. El Diario de Caracas (in Spanish). 5 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  30. ^ "Perú ratifica su postura sobre Venezuela: 'No vamos a apoyar ningún gobierno dictatorial'" [Peru reaffirms its position on Venezuela: 'We will not support any dictatorial government']. El Diario de Caracas (in Spanish). 6 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Blinken: Overwhelming evidence Venezuela opposition won election". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  32. ^ Schmidt, Samantha; Brown, Matthew Hay (2 August 2024). "U.S. says Maduro lost Venezuelan election, calls for talks, transition". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  33. ^ "Argentina recognizes Edmundo Gonzalez as president-elect of Venezuela". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  34. ^ "Montevideo says González Urrutia won but still not president-elect". MercoPress. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  35. ^ Times, Tico (2 August 2024). "Costa Rica Recognizes Opposition Victory in Venezuelan Elections". The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  36. ^ Cuevas, Carlos (2 August 2024). "Lista de países que reconocen a Edmundo González como presidente de Venezuela". Bloomberg Línea (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  37. ^ Phillips, Tom (14 August 2024). "Nicolás Maduro's refusal to quit raises a troubling question for Venezuela: what next?". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  38. ^ Phillips, Tom (22 August 2024). "Pressure grows on Maduro after top court endorses Venezuela election win". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  39. ^ Herrero, Ana Vanessa; Schmidt, Samantha; DeYoung, Karen (15 July 2024). "Biden made a bold deal with Venezuela's strongman. Will it pay off?". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  40. ^ a b Turkewitz, Julie; Glatsky, Genevieve (22 August 2024). "Venezuela's Supreme Court, Loyal to Maduro, Rules Him Election Winner". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 August 2024. The decision surprised few Venezuelans, as the court has long been used to rubber-stamp the policies of Mr. Maduro, who is likely to use this ruling to strengthen his claim to the presidency.
  41. ^ a b Vyas, Kejal (22 August 2023). "Maduro's Hand-Picked Supreme Court Calls Him Venezuela's Election Winner". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 August 2024. The court's ruling was expected, as it is stacked with loyalists to Maduro's ruling Socialist Party.
  42. ^ a b Buschschlüter, Vanessa (1 August 2024). "Maduro manoeuvring to stay in power in Venezuela". BBC. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024. Mr Maduro has turned to Venezuela's top court ... But instead of making the tallies public, he took the unusual step of filing a 'writ of amparo' - a legal move normally used by citizens who think their constitutional rights have been violated. He asked the top court to audit the voting tallies with a view to confirming the results provided by the CNE which handed him another six-year term in power. ... However, this move has already been dismissed by independent bodies, including the Carter Center.
  43. ^ Tovar, Javier; Agelvis, Barbara (15 August 2024). "Brazil, Colombia urge new Venezuela vote, as opposition cries foul". Agence France-Presse. Yahoo News. Retrieved 16 August 2024. Maduro has previously rejected the possibility of new elections and asked the country's highest court, also viewed as loyal to him, to certify the outcome.
  44. ^ "Venezuela's top court ratifies Maduro election win as government tightens control". Reuters. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  45. ^ "In diepste geheim bood Nederland onderdak aan oppositieleider Venezuela" [The Netherlands secretly offered shelter to Venezuelan opposition leader]. RTL Nederland (in Dutch). 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  46. ^ "Edmundo González abandonó Venezuela tras solicitar asilo político en España" [Edmundo González left Venezuela after requesting political asylum in Spain]. El Diario de Caracas (in Spanish). 7 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  47. ^ Lozano, Daniel; Piña, Raúl (8 September 2024). "Edmundo González vuela a Madrid tras negociar su exilio" [Edmundo González flies to Madrid after negotiating his exile]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  48. ^ "Venezuelan opposition leaders awarded Europe's Sakharov Prize for democratic campaign". Reuters. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  49. ^ Itriago Acosta, Andreina (24 April 2024). "Venezuelan Opposition Leader Says He'd Be Open to Talks With Maduro". Bloomberg.

Further reading

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