BTN News: The leader of Venezuela’s main opposition, Edmundo González Urrutia, has issued a bold call for a peaceful transition of power in the country, urging President Nicolás Maduro to step aside following the contentious presidential election held on July 28th. In a video message released on social media, González Urrutia, who represents the Platforma Unitaria Democrática (PUD), emphasized the need for immediate dialogue and action to ensure a smooth and non-violent transition, as his coalition maintains that the election was won by their candidate.
González Urrutia’s call comes at a critical time, as tensions remain high following the disputed election results. While the official count by the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Maduro the winner, the PUD insists that their candidate secured victory based on 83.5% of the election records they managed to collect through witnesses and polling station officials. Despite these claims, the Maduro government has dismissed the opposition’s data as false, intensifying the political standoff.
The opposition leader, often referred to as a “coward” by Maduro, delivered a strong message that the people of Venezuela are resolute in their demand for a peaceful change. He underscored that each day the government delays a democratic transition, the country’s ongoing crisis deepens, further eroding freedom and worsening the suffering of Venezuelans. González Urrutia accused Maduro of being directly responsible for the nation’s dire situation, marked by widespread poverty, corruption, and abuse.
In his address, González Urrutia highlighted the growing frustration among Venezuelans, who he says are “tired of so much abuse and corruption.” He stressed that the time has come for millions of citizens to contribute to the reconstruction of their homeland and called on the government to respect the popular will expressed in the elections. He reaffirmed his readiness for political dialogue aimed at initiating the definitive democratic transformation that Venezuela so desperately needs.
The controversy surrounding the election results has only escalated as the CNE, nearly a month after the vote, has yet to release detailed results, despite numerous domestic and international calls for transparency. This lack of clarity has fueled further distrust in the electoral process and has strengthened the opposition’s stance.
As Venezuela stands on the brink of potential political change, the situation remains precarious. The international community watches closely, with many hoping that dialogue and diplomacy can pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the country’s long-standing political turmoil.
