The 76-year-old former diplomat, currently living in exile in Spain, also reaffirmed his support for opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado, who has been pushing for fresh elections and a democratic transition in the oil-rich South American nation.
The move is expected to increase pressure on Venezuelan authorities and Washington amid growing calls for democratic reforms following the removal of former president Nicolas Maduro in January during a US military operation. Since then, Venezuela has been led by interim leader Delcy Rodriguez.
In a video message shared on social media, Gonzalez Urrutia said he and Machado were united in their efforts to secure freedom and democracy for Venezuela.
“My commitment is to do everything in my power to ensure that mandate becomes real freedom, real democracy,” he said.
Machado praised Gonzalez Urrutia as “an example of service and dedication to the homeland” and reiterated her commitment to negotiating a democratic transition with the current administration.
Gonzalez Urrutia became the opposition’s candidate in the July 2024 presidential election after Machado was barred from contesting. The opposition claims the election was marred by widespread fraud and maintains that Gonzalez Urrutia was the rightful winner, although Maduro was officially declared victorious by the electoral council, which did not release detailed vote counts.
END/WD/RH/
