Edmundo González Urrutia, the 74-year-old diplomat chosen by the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) as representative of the opposition in the presidential elections scheduled to take place on July 28 in Venezuela, made this Wednesday (24) his first public statement, highlighting the challenges the country faces and its vision for overcoming them.
“We are facing the challenge of betting on Venezuela’s recovery. No one can remain indifferent to the situation of millions of our compatriots, a poverty that is expanding while inflation persists and the currency loses real value”, declared Urrutia in a video published on YouTube.
González Urrutia promised a Venezuela where “no one should feel afraid of being persecuted for their ideas” and cited that the opposition is committed to “carrying forward a transition that guarantees the freedom of political prisoners, the return of exiles and all Venezuelans who left and wish to return, the adaptation of public authorities to prevail their independence and the positioning of our country to once again become an international democratic reference”.
Urrutia said his time in diplomacy allowed him to have “the tools to understand how Venezuela should behave in a turbulent world, plagued by conflict.”
He also spoke about his candidacy, acknowledging that “it was a decision that I hadn’t expected a few days ago, which is why I took this time to send you this message.”
The diplomat thanked the support of María Corina Machado, who won the opposition PUD primaries but was disqualified by the Maduro regime, and also the support of Machado’s replacement, professor Corina Yoris, banned by Chavismo without any justification.
Urrutia also thanked Manuel Rosales, governor of Zulia, who withdrew his candidacy in favor of opposition unity.
“They made the candidacy possible unanimously”, emphasized the diplomat.