Venezuela: The opposition to Maduro confirms the candidacy of Edmundo Gonzalez for the presidential elections

The historian was appointed as a replacement for María Corina Machado, who was also barred from registering, despite winning the opposition primary in October.

Opposition leaders accuse the government of imposing obstacles to opposition candidates. The government denies these accusations.

In January, Venezuela's Supreme Court confirmed Machado's political disqualification from holding any public office.

The country is witnessing a political and economic crisis that has led to the departure of at least 7.5 million people, according to estimates by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which has drawn the attention of the international community.

Faced with this scenario, the Democratic Unionist Party announced in March that it had decided to register González “temporarily” to “preserve the exercise of political rights that are compatible with our political organization until we can register our unionist candidacy.”

Gonzalez was confirmed as a candidate one day before the deadline during which, according to the electoral calendar, replacements could be made.

Last Wednesday, Colombia's President, Gustavo Petro, presented a two-stage plan to open Venezuela's elections to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, during the Brazilian's visit to Bogotá.

Asked whether Machado agreed with Gonzalez's nomination, Barboza responded to a group of journalists: “Maria Corina Machado participated in the debate and will make her statement at the time she deems appropriate.”

“This is great news for Venezuelan democrats who want change,” he added.

Machado posted on a social media site: “Venezuelans, we are moving forward.”

Gonzalez (74 years old) served as ambassador to Algeria between 1991 and 1993 and to Argentina during the first years of the Hugo Chavez government.

He has published several books and, as a member of the opposition, was an international representative of the Democratic Unity Roundtable between 2013 and 2015.

After the PYD's announcement, reactions in Venezuela began to emerge.

“We have a candidate. Unity is above all,” Corinna Joris said on the X social network.

“As we have always said, Venezuela’s future must come first,” Zulia state governor Manuel Rosales, who is registered as a presidential candidate for the Un Nuevo Tiempo party, said on his X account.

Vente Venezuela, the political party led by Maria Corina Machado, also posted a message on social media celebrating the decision.

The impossibility of the PYD registering Joris' candidacy for the elections raised eyebrows at the time inside and outside Venezuela.

The resolution was rejected by several countries, including the governments of Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, which expressed “deep concern” about “persistent obstacles” in registering candidates for the Venezuelan elections.

A text issued by the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the approval of other governments, said: “These restrictions impede progress towards elections that allow the process of democratic transformation in sisterly Venezuela.”

In March, Lula's government toughened its tone with the Venezuelan government, a traditional ally of the Workers' Party administration.

A memo from Itamaraty expressed concern about the progress of the elections scheduled for July in the neighboring country, given the obstacle to registering Joris' candidacy.