In the lead-up to Venezuela's presidential inauguration, self-exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González visited Panama to garner regional backing for the opposition's claims of victory in the July election against President Nicolás Maduro.
González, accompanied by a group of former Latin American leaders, held a meeting with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino at the presidential palace. During the meeting, González presented what he claimed to be the original ballot tallies indicating his landslide win in the July 28 presidential elections.
Expressing concern over the political situation in Venezuela, González stated, “Venezuela is facing very complicated times because the regime insists on clinging to power despite having been widely defeated in the elections. The elections were openly stolen.”
Following his visit to Panama, González plans to return to Venezuela to assume office as president, despite the challenges posed by Maduro's government, which has issued an arrest warrant for him and controls all key institutions, including the military.
The Venezuelan opposition received a boost when Colombian leftist leader Gustavo Petro announced that he would not attend Maduro's inauguration in solidarity with a human rights activist who was recently arrested in Venezuela. Petro emphasized, “We can't recognize elections that were not free.”
Despite facing significant obstacles due to Maduro's crackdown on dissent, the opposition continues to push for a review of the election results. Panama was among the first countries in Latin America to demand a full review of the presidential electoral results from Venezuelan authorities.
President Mulino reiterated Panama's support for González, emphasizing, “Panama is with you and with the legitimacy you represent.”
The Venezuelan political landscape remains tense, with regional leaders closely monitoring the developments as the opposition seeks to challenge Maduro's hold on power.
For more news on Latin America and the Caribbean, visit AP's Latin America and Caribbean coverage.
