Venezuelan Opposition Candidate Declines Supreme Court Summons
The political landscape in Venezuela is becoming increasingly tense as opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia has declared that he will not attend a Supreme Court hearing regarding President Nicolas Maduro's disputed re-election. In a press release shared on X, Gonzalez Urrutia expressed concerns for his safety and the integrity of the Venezuelan people's will, which he claims was expressed during the election on July 28. He has been absent from public view for over a week as tensions rise between his supporters and Maduro's regime, which has labeled him a criminal.
Maduro, who was proclaimed re-elected by the National Electoral Council (CNE) with 52% of the votes, is seeking to have his victory validated through the Supreme Court. The CNE has faced backlash for not releasing all the polling station minutes, citing claims of hacking. In contrast, the opposition asserts that Gonzalez Urrutia actually won with 67% of the votes, based on their obtained records. The unrest following the election has resulted in 24 reported deaths, highlighting the volatile political climate in Venezuela.
The Supreme Court has initiated a verification process following Maduro's appeal, with President Caryslia Rodríguez confirming that all involved parties must comply with court orders. This includes a series of summons for various candidates, with Gonzalez Urrutia being a key figure. The Supreme Court is expected to conduct an in-depth investigation into the election results, which may take up to 15 days. As the situation unfolds, both the opposition and the international community continue to demand transparency and accountability from the government.
