Edmundo González

Edmundo González
González in 2024
President-elect of Venezuela
(Partial recognition)
In role
28 July 2024 – present
Disputed with Nicolás Maduro
SucceedingNicolás Maduro
President of the Democratic Unity Roundtable
Assumed office
24 August 2021
Preceded byRamón José Medina
Diplomatic offices
Ambassador of Venezuela
to Argentina
In office
8 November 1998 – 12 July 2002
PresidentRafael Caldera
Hugo Chávez
Ambassador of Venezuela
to Algeria
In office
1991–1993
PresidentCarlos Andrés Pérez
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Personal details
BornEdmundo González Urrutia
(1949-08-29) 29 August 1949
La Victoria, Aragua, United States of Venezuela
(Present-day, La Victoria, Aragua, Venezuela)
PartyIndependent
(Affiliated with the MUD)
Other political
affiliations
PU (since 2021)
Spouse
Mercedes Marina López
(m. 1973)
Children
  • Mariana del Carmen González
  • Carolina González
Parent(s)Pascual Alfredo González
Hilda Josefina Urrutia
EducationCaracas university
Alma materCentral University of Venezuela (BA)
American University (MA)
Occupation
  • Diplomat
  • politician
  • political analyst
  • professor
  • writer
CabinetGonzalez cabinet
AwardsSakharov Prize (2024)
Signature
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Edmundo González Urrutia (born 29 August 1949) is a Venezuelan politician, analyst, and diplomat. An opposition figure, he is a member of the Unitary Platform political alliance. González was its candidate in the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election. González has previously served as the Venezuelan ambassador to Argentina and Algeria. He also sits on the editorial board of El Nacional.

A national and international political crisis erupted following the Venezuelan government's announcement that incumbent Nicolás Maduro won the 2024 election against González, which analysts argue was not based on the actual votes cast. The reactions of the international community were divided: some countries including the U.S., most European nations, and some Latin American countries (such as Argentina, Costa Rica, Peru, and Uruguay) rejected the official results and recognized González as the election winner, while others including, Vietnam, Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Bolivia, and Honduras recognized Maduro as the winner.

Maduro did not cede power, and instead asked the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), composed of justices loyal to Maduro, to approve the results, which they did. An arrest warrant was issued for González, who was charged with "usurpation of functions, falsification of public documents, instigation to disobey the law, conspiracy and association"; he was granted asylum in Spain, leaving Venezuela on 7 September 2024. He was awarded the Sakharov Prize in December 2024, alongside María Corina Machado.