Edmundo González Urrutia: Who is the candidate of Nicolas Maduro's Venezuelan opposition in the July 28, 2024 elections | Maria Corina Machado | PUD | MUD | Manuel Rosales | the world

Since March 26, the Democratic Unity Platform (PUD), a coalition that unites the majority of opposition parties. VenezuelaA provisional record of Edmond Gonzalez Urrutia Before the National Electoral Council (CNE), he does not speak in public and maintains a discreet communication on his social networks. He is also not seen in films with such leaders Maria Corina Machado.

“I take on the immense honor and responsibility of being the candidate of all those who want change in the ways of elections. A hug to the people of Venezuela. Soon I will address all Venezuelans who are betting on the recovery of the country,” he wrote on Sunday. Gonzalez Urrutia On his social network X two days after being confirmed as a candidate. This is his second message on that platform in the last seven years.

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when Gonzalez Urrutia Recorded, some analysts felt it was a PUD strategy, to avoid being left without a candidate and the ultimate aim was to push for the nomination. Corina YorisProposed by whom Machado In the face of political disqualification imposed on him.

It is important to note that Venezuelan electoral law allows candidates to change until registration officially closes on Saturday, April 20.

On Friday, after several closed-door meetings to resolve the discrepancies, the PUD finally confirmed. Gonzalez Urrutia As an opposition candidate. He did so just hours before the July 28 deadline to appear on the election ballot He faces incumbent President Nicolás Maduro.

Close the deal, enemy Manuel Rosalesof the party A new timeHe agreed to drop his candidacy and support Gonzalez Urrutia.

“Democrats of Venezuela and the world, I want to give a good message to the people of Venezuela. Democratic United Platform The ambassador's nomination was unanimously accepted Edmond Gonzalez Urrutia As a candidate of unity supported by all factors,” said the Executive Secretary of the PUD on Friday. Omar BarbosaStatements to the media.

“We want to recognize the governor Rosales“A man of his word, after listening to the presentation of all the members of the platform, he decided to reject his candidacy to join the candidacy of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrudia,” he noted.

This Saturday, her own Machado He used his social networks to publicly advocate Gonzalez Urrutia.

“Today we have 99 more days because we already have the date, July 28, we already have a card, we already have a candidate, he is already supported by everyone, by all political parties, by good citizens, Edmundo González Urrudia,” said Machado In a video.

Machado He called on Venezuelans inside and outside the Caribbean nation to organize “so that every vote counts.”

“Today we have taken this great step, we have followed the order of October 22 in the primaries, and based on that order we are overcoming hurdles after hurdles, as we did yesterday, we have done it together. God's and that is the meaning of going to the end,” he added.

For its part, On Saturday, Rosales resigned as presidential candidate to support Gonzalez Urrutia.

“In our commitment to the electoral path to change Venezuela, we register before the National Electoral Council the resignation of Manuel Rosales Guerrero as a candidate for the presidential election on July 28,” his Un Nuevo Tiempo party said on social network X.

Meanwhile he CNE On Saturday, it announced the decision to extend the candidate replacement process for another 72 hours after receiving requests from various political bodies. The deadline now ends on Tuesday, April 23.

Besides Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia,

A further 10 opponents have filed their candidacies for the July 28 election, though none are among the favourites.

Who is Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia?

Edmond Gonzalez Urrutia74 years old, has been an ambassador Venezuela In Algeria (from 1991 to 1993) and in Argentina, between 1998 and 2002, when Hugo Chávez was already in power.

As AFP notes, Gonzalez has deactivated her social media since 2017, a few days after registering as a “cover candidate,” except for a small publication in X on March 31 to warn that someone had “taken liberty to open an unauthorized account.” This Sunday's release.

X shows himself in his profile Diplomat, international researcher and writer. Since its announcement, the account has grown from around 7,000 followers to around 30,000.

He was born in La Victoria, Aragua state. He is a graduate Central University of Venezuela (UCV) and earned a master's degree International relations In American University 1981 in Washington, United States.

He has held various positions in Directorate General of International Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Between 1994 and 1998, including directing Venezuela's Strategic Analysis and Planning Committee.

Currently working as Deputy Director and Coordinator Working Group on Monitoring the International Organization of the Fermin Toro Institute of Parliamentary StudiesHe collaborates with other prominent Venezuelan lawyers and politicians, the portal notes Infobay.

Gonzalez Urrutia He has written a book about the Venezuelan historian, diplomat, lawyer and intellectual Caracciolo Parra PérezIt was digitized and made available to the public this year.

He has also participated in such works.Democracy, Peace and Development“”Venezuela and Colombia: A Relationship of Encounters and Disagreements“”Venezuela-Argentina: Two Centuries of Shared Visions“y”The international fight against corruption in Venezuela and its consequences”, according to Infopay.

Regarding politics, Gonzalez Urrutia has never run for elected office.

He has been the chairman of Democratic Unity Index (MUD)Later replaced by the PUD, and was a consultant in the 2015 elections to the National Assembly, the only major opposition electoral victory.

“González is the opposite of Chavismo, Madurismo and the traditional politician. He is a cultured, honest, family-oriented man, without hypocrisy and without a tinge of populism,” wrote researcher Jose Toro Hardy.

“The greatest asset of Edmundo González is his lack of knowledge (among the people), because it indicates the lowest level of rejection and the possibility of growth of rejection of Maduro (in polls),” said Omar Vázquez Heredia. A doctor and researcher in political science.

Since Friday, Gonzalez's name has been trending on X in Venezuela.

“The 'cover' candidate became a national phenomenon without saying a word,” wrote political activist Brenner Barrius on social media.