The departure on September 7 former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez for exile in Spain likely marks the end of the latest opportunity for peaceful political change in Venezuela, as incumbent President Nicolas Maduro continues to ignore — Cuba style — international criticism and pressure for a review of the July 28 election, stolen from the likely victors by Maduro’s political machine and supporters.
In an audio message produced by his communications team, released shortly after his arrival at a military base outside Madrid, González said he was “confident that soon we will continue the fight to achieve freedom and the recovery of democracy in Venezuela.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Edmundo González “remains the best hope for democracy” in Venezuela after the former presidential candidate departed for Spain and that Maduro’s representatives should not be allowed “to cling to power by force.”
Venezuelans voted for change. Maduro’s post-election repression has killed or jailed thousands, and winning candidate @EdmundoGU remains the best hope for democracy. We must not let Maduro and his representatives cling to power by force. The will of the people must be respected.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 9, 2024
Regime pressure forced Gonzalez into exile
The Organization of American States (OAS) noted on September 7 that Gonzalez had effectively been “forced into exile” after an arrest warrant was issued by the Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office on September 2.
Maduro’s government had denounced the massive post-election street protests as an attempted “coup,” making security for opposition leaders a critical issue. After the July elections and weeks of street protests, Gonzalez, after having received multiple threats, had taken temporary refuge first in the Netherlands Embassy; he moved to the Spanish Embassy in September.
On September 6, Venezuelan security forces moved to surround the Argentine Embassy in Caracas after two opposition members took refuge inside, joining four others who had taken refuge there earlier this year.
Political action on the Venezuela situation will likely move gradually to New York where numerous meetings and side events supporting the opposition will be organized as the UN General Assembly convenes later this month. Anti-Maduro exile groups based in the U.S. will undoubtedly make a strong showing, also hoping to press the Biden administration to take tougher action, but the U.S. Government has already declared that it sees Gonzalez as the rightful winner of the July election.
These exile groups generally support former President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and have allied with anti-communist Cuban exile groups in Florida to provide Trump’s campaign electoral support there. Venezuela’s political meltdown has additional implications for U.S. politics as many thousands attempt to flee the country, many of whom have chosen to try to cross the Mexican border.
It should be noted that the U.S. Government seized Venezuela’s equivalent of Air Force One, although much smaller, on September 2 while it was in the Dominican Republic for service, noting that its initial purchase through a shell company had been a violation of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela. The Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft was flown to Florida immediately, while Maduro’s regime could do little but denounce the move as “piracy.”
On September 12, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 16 Maduro-affiliated individuals, including leaders of the National Electoral Council, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, and the Maduro-affiliated national assembly because these officials impeded a transparent electoral process and the release of accurate election results. The Department of State noted on September 12 that it is imposing new visa restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 9931 on Maduro-aligned officials who have undermined the electoral process in Venezuela and are responsible for acts of repression.
The EU has had difficulties producing a united front on Venezuela’s election after Hungary vetoed a statement just after the July election that expressed the bloc’s concern about alleged “flaws and irregularities” in the voting and called for greater transparency. Realizing that Hungary would likely remain intransigent, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has issued numerous statements on the election using his own name instead of seeking backing from the EU’s 27 member countries, effectively bypassing hardline Hungarian opposition.
US statement concerning Edmundo González Urrutia’s Decision to Leave Venezuela:
“Edmundo González Urrutia remains an indisputable voice for peace and democratic change in Venezuela. His message of a democratic restoration in Venezuela has inspired the hopes and aspirations of the Venezuelan people and resulted in a powerful call for change in the July 28 presidential election. His departure from Venezuela is the direct result of the anti-democratic measures that Nicolás Maduro has unleashed on the Venezuelan people, including against González Urrutia and other opposition leaders, since the election.
On July 28, the Venezuelan people overwhelmingly and unequivocally expressed their desire for democratic change. The election results and the will of the people cannot be merely swept aside by Maduro and the Venezuelan electoral authorities. We stand with González Urrutia in his call to continue the struggle for liberty and the restoration of democracy in Venezuela.
The United States strongly condemns Maduro’s decision to use repression and intimidation to cling to power by brute force rather than acknowledge his defeat at the polls. In the past six weeks, Maduro has unjustly arrested nearly two thousand Venezuelans, used censorship and threats to silence opposition to his rule, and violated Venezuelan laws to remain in power against the will of the Venezuelan people.
We call on Maduro to cease the repression and immediately release all those unjustly detained. The United States will continue to work with our international partners to defend democratic freedoms in Venezuela and ensure Maduro and his representatives are held accountable for their actions.
Antony J. Blinken, September 8, 2024”
Josep Borrell statement on Gonzalez’s departure:
“Today is a sad day for democracy in Venezuela.
Faced with repression, political persecution, and direct threats to his safety and freedom, after being given hospitality at the residence of the Netherlands in Caracas until September 5th, political leader and presidential candidate Edmundo González has had to request political asylum and accept the protection offered by Spain.
Edmundo González appears to be the winner of the presidential elections, by a large majority, according to publicly available copies of the electoral records (actas).
In a democracy, no political leader should be forced to seek asylum in another country.
The EU insists that the Venezuelan authorities end repression, arbitrary arrests, and harassment against members of the opposition and civil society, as well as release all political prisoners.
The EU will continue to support the Venezuelan people in their democratic aspirations.
Josep Borrell, September 8, 2024”
