PANAMA CITY — Just days before the inauguration of Venezuela’s president, self-exiled opposition leader Edmundo González visited Panama on Wednesday, seeking regional support for his assertion that he emerged victorious in the July elections against President Nicolás Maduro.
González gathered with a group of former Latin American leaders at the presidential palace, where he was received by Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino. During the meeting, they posed for pictures while holding what González claimed to be the original ballot counts indicating his decisive win in the July 28 presidential elections.
“Venezuela is enduring extremely challenging times as the regime continues to cling to power despite suffering a significant defeat in the elections,” González addressed the media after meeting with Mulino, whom he thanked for his support. “The elections were clearly stolen.”
This gathering followed González’s departure from exile in Madrid, during which he met with U.S. President Joe Biden, as well as political leaders from Argentina and Uruguay. After touring the region and stopping in the Dominican Republic, González expressed intent to return to Venezuela to assume the presidency on Friday.
However, he did not clarify how he plans to return or how he hopes to gain power from Maduro, who has issued an arrest warrant against him and controls all governmental institutions, including the military.
Additionally, the Venezuelan opposition marked a notable moment on Wednesday when Colombian leftist leader Gustavo Petro announced he would skip Maduro’s inauguration due to the crackdown on a human rights activist in Venezuela. Petro’s announcement marked a significant shift; he had previously developed a close relationship with Maduro, which adds an important dimension of support for the opposition.
“We cannot acknowledge elections that were not conducted freely,” Petro stated on the social media platform X on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, the opposition continues to confront daunting challenges, having endured significant setbacks following Maduro’s oppressive actions post-elections, a stark contrast to the widespread support experienced ahead of the July polls. Maduro’s government has not made the official ballot counts available, which the opposition claims were obtained through extensive grassroots efforts.
Following assertions that these counts demonstrated González’s overwhelming victory, the Maduro regime arrested numerous critics and opposition figures. Recently, González reported that his son-in-law had been kidnapped.
The government’s harsh measures and Maduro’s pronouncement of victory have drawn fierce criticism throughout the region. Panama was among the first countries in Latin America to call for a thorough examination of the presidential electoral results after Maduro was declared the winner by the country’s electoral authority.
Mulino’s administration announced it would sever ties with the Venezuelan government until there was a comprehensive review of the electoral process, and on Wednesday, the Panamanian leader intensified his rhetoric against Maduro.
“We want to firmly express that Panama stands with you and the legitimacy you represent,” Mulino stated to González.
