Edmundo González proclaims himself president of Venezuela

Edmundo Gonzalezopponent to Nicolas Maduroproclaimed himself the new president of Venezuela this Monday, 5th. The opposition, led by González and Maria Corina Machadohas been contesting the election results since voting day, July 28.

“We won this election without any discussion. It was an electoral landslide, full of energy and with an admirable, peaceful, democratic citizen organization and with irreversible results. Now, it is up to all of us to ensure that the voice of the people is respected. We will immediately proclaim Edmundo González Urrutia as president-elect of the Republic,” said González.

González’s self-proclamation is symbolic, since, according to Venezuelan law, only the National Electoral Council (CNE) has the legal power to proclaim a new president.

Maduro was proclaimed the winner by the CNE last week with 51,95% of the votes, while González received 43,18%com 96,87% of the ballot boxes counted, according to data released last Friday, 2. The president of the CNE is an ally of Maduro.

The opposition and the international community dispute the figures released by the CNE and call for the full disclosure of the electoral records.

Several countries, international observers, the Organization of American States (OAS) and European Union do not recognize the result and demand more transparency. The Carter Center, an NGO that monitors elections, stated that the election “cannot be considered democratic.”

The self-proclamation comes after some countries, led by the United States, considered Edmundo González the winner of the election.

A parallel vote count carried out by the opposition indicates that González beat Maduro with 67% of the vote, against 30% of the president.

Maduro did not prove his victory and called his opponents terrorists, stating that “they have to be behind bars.”

A Supreme Court of Venezuelaaligned with Maduro, carried out an audit of the results last Friday, the 2nd, at the request of the president. In the session, the candidates signed a document accepting the numbers released by the CNE, in an attempt by Maduro to legitimize the elections.

In a statement, González and Corina Machado said that “Maduro refuses to recognize that he has been defeated” and called on the Venezuelan military to stand “with the people” and prevent a coup d’état that Maduro would be carrying out.

“We ask you to stop the regime’s madness against the people and to respect, and ensure respect for, the results of the July 28 elections. Maduro carried out a coup d’état that goes against the entire constitutional order and wants to make you complicit in this. (…) Members of the Armed Forces and police forces, fulfill your institutional duties, do not repress the people, accompany them,” the statement said.

The Defense Ministry had declared last week that the Army is with Maduro.