Venezuela’s opposition candidate on Saturday called for President Nicolas Maduro to end “violence and persecution,” hours after the country’s high court said its upcoming ruling on the disputed July 28 election cannot be appealed.
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who claims to have won the election by a wide margin, posted a video on social media demanding that Maduro allow free political expression.
“I ask you on behalf of all Venezuelans to put an end to the violence and persecution and to immediately release all compatriots arbitrarily detained,” Gonzalez Urrutia said, referring to post-election unrest that left 24 dead and 2,200 people arrested.
Photo: AFP
“Demanding respect for our constitution is not a crime, demonstrating peacefully to uphold the will of millions of Venezuelans is not a crime,” the 74-year-old former diplomat added.
The message from Gonzalez Urrutia, who has not been seen publicly in more than a week, came after the Venezuelan Supreme Court said its upcoming ruling on the contested election would be “final.”
The court “is continuing the assessment begun on August 5, 2024, with a view to producing the final ruling... Its decisions are final and binding,” the body’s president Carylsia Rodriguez said.
Most observers say the high court is loyal to the government of Maduro, who has claimed a narrow victory in the election.
Opposition leaders say Gonzalez Urrutia won overwhelmingly and have produced what they say are official tallies from voting sites as evidence.
Maduro himself summoned the high court on Aug. 1 to “validate” his victory.
The court heard from all candidates, including Maduro, this week — except for Gonzalez Urrutia, who has said he fears arrest.
Key opposition leader Maria Corina Machado — a past presidential candidate who was banned from running this time — has said she is living in hiding.
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