BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Edmundo González, an opposition figure from Venezuela recognized by the United States as the victor of last year’s presidential elections, commenced an international tour on Saturday. His travels to Washington, D.C., come just before Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to be inaugurated for a third term despite mounting global dissent.
As González left a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, a group of Venezuelan expatriates erupted in chants of “Edmundo, Presidente” as he appeared on the balcony of the historic Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires.
Milei, an enthusiastic ally of the Venezuelan opposition from the far-right, welcomed González at the presidential palace with honors typically given to heads of state. He expressed his commitment to the pursuit of freedom, stating, “We are doing whatever the cause of freedom requires.”
Following a July 28 presidential election that resulted in Maduro’s declaration as the winner, González, a former diplomat, sought refuge in Spain. This move came after a judge issued an arrest warrant against him. The National Electoral Council, which is composed of individuals loyal to the ruling party, had made its declaration on the election results.
In the past few weeks, González has publicly affirmed his intention to return to Venezuela to be sworn in for his presidential term, which is mandated to commence on January 10. Nevertheless, he has not disclosed how he intends to reclaim power from Maduro, who maintains control over all key governmental institutions as well as the military. “By whatever means necessary, I’m going to be there,” González asserted.
In an escalating response, Maduro’s administration recently announced a $100,000 reward for information regarding González’s location. This announcement was accompanied by a wanted-style bulletin showcasing González’s photo across social media and the main arrivals board at the country’s largest airport.
During a press meeting, González confirmed that he would depart for the U.S. that evening, where he aspires to meet with President Joe Biden after a brief stop in Uruguay for talks with President Luis Lacalle Pou. His plan includes visits to Panama and the Dominican Republic as part of this unplanned regional journey.
González, who served twice as Venezuela’s ambassador to Argentina over two decades ago, utilized his visit to underscore the situation of numerous Venezuelans who remain behind bars following a crackdown by Maduro’s regime post-election. In his discussions with Milei, they addressed the welfare of five opponents of Maduro, who have been residing in the Argentine embassy in Caracas for nearly ten months. The Venezuelan government severed relations with Argentina and expelled diplomats after Milei and other regional leaders declined to endorse Maduro’s election victory.
González highlighted that Maduro’s administration has obstructed safe passage for those activists looking to seek asylum in Argentina. The tension between the two nations escalated further last month when an Argentine National Guardsman was detained upon entering Venezuela, as the government accused him of terrorism. However, Argentina clarified that Nahuel Gallo had traveled to Venezuela to visit his wife and her family.
Current estimates suggest that around 220,000 Venezuelans live in Argentina—a part of the greater exodus of over 7 million individuals fleeing Venezuela due to political instability, economic disorder, and repression under Maduro since 2014.
Among the crowd welcoming González was Janet Avila, a 51-year-old teacher who fled Venezuela two years prior. She expressed her gratitude towards the people of Argentina while longing to reunite with her family back home, stating, “I’m very grateful to the Argentines; they’ve been beautiful to me, but I want to go home.”
The Biden administration, along with most European governments, has dismissed the official results of the election, citing a lack of thorough reporting from authorities, which has been customary in previous elections. In contrast, opposition-affiliated tally sheets gathered from 85% of the nation’s electronic voting systems indicate that González won by a substantial margin of more than two to one.
González, now 75, emerged as a prominent figure in the anti-Maduro coalition in a last-minute capacity, following the disqualification of well-known opposition leader María Corina Machado from the electoral race.
