Sinan Dogan
09 January 2025•Update: 09 January 2025
BOGOTA, Colombia
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the opposition coalition candidate in Venezuela's July 2024 presidential election, sought support in his visit to Panama ahead of Maduro's inauguration in Venezuela.
Gonzalez Urrutia, who is on a Latin American tour, was received on Wednesday by Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino at the presidential palace in Panama.
This visit came after his visits to Argentina and Uruguay.
Gonzalez Urrutia asked for support from Latin American countries, saying: “The reason I am here today is to ask you to accompany us to fulfill this sacred mission on behalf of my brave people who voted for me.
"The sovereignty of the people is non-negotiable.”
According to Panamanian media reports, President Mulino said he recognized Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuela's “elected head of state” and offered his government's support.
Gonzalez Urrutia, who also met with Panama's Foreign Minister Javier Martinez Acha. He handed over what he claimed were original ballot tallies to the Panamanian officials.
Gonzales Urrutia claimed that they won the presidential election by 67.05% according to the minutes in their possession, while President Nicolas Maduro received 30.49% of the votes.
“We will put an end to this nightmare and we will all return to our homeland with joy. Most importantly, we rely on your experience to recover and rebuild our Venezuela," he stated.
In previous statements, the Venezuelan government had said that the tallies held by the opposition were forged.
Gonzalez Urrutia's return to Venezuela
Meanwhile, Gonzalez Urrutia, who announced that he would go to Venezuela on Jan. 10 to take the oath of presidency, did not provide details about the process.
It remains to be seen how Gonzalez Urrutia, for whom an arrest warrant has been issued by the Venezuelan prosecutor's office and a $100,000 reward has been offered for his capture, will act.
Venezuelan Interior and Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello announced on Jan. 7 that Gonzalez Urrutia would be detained if he set foot in the country.
According to the results announced by the National Electoral Council on July 29, 2024, Nicolas Maduro won the presidential election for the third time.
Maduro is preparing to be sworn in for a third consecutive six-year term Friday, despite allegations of fraud in the July elections.
The Venezuelan opposition, which claims that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the presidential election, has called for protests to take place Thursday.
Gonzalez Urrutia has embarked on a regional tour, visiting Argentina, Uruguay, the US, Panama and the Dominican Republic to garner support from countries that have recognized his claim to the presidency.
