Venezuelan President-Elect to Meet With US Lawmakers Prior to Facing Maduro

Venezuelan President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez-Urrutia will visit US lawmakers in Washington, D.C. this week prior to leaving for Venezuela and facing Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro. 

Gonzalez is reportedly scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders as he prepares to return to Venezuela on January 10th and demand he be inaugurated as Venezuela’s legitimate president. 

Gonzalez’s meetings antecede global protests set for January 9th to pressure Maduro into relinquishing power. 

US Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), a consistent supporter of Venezuela’s democratic opposition forces, is one of the lawmakers that will meet with Gonzalez during his DC visit. 

“I’m eager to meet with President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez next week and look forward to his rightful inauguration as Venezuela’s leader on January 10th,” said Senator Scott. 

Gonzalez was elected during Venezuela’s Presidential elections last July. 

Venezuela’s elections follow failed negotiations between Venezuela’s government and President Biden’s administration over electoral assurances in exchange for sanctions relief.

Despite promises of allowing free and fair elections, the Venezuelan regime barred opposition leader Machado from participating in the same.

Machado then invested her political capital into Gonzalez, who subsequently won the presidential elections.

Despite Gonzalez’s victory, Maduro’s electoral commission declared Maduro as the winner without showing proof of the votes he received. 

“González’s legitimate victory reflects the will of the Venezuelan people,” continued Scott. “In contrast, Nicolás Maduro is a thug who is willing to do anything to stay in power, acting as a puppet for Iran, China, Russia and Cuba.”

Ultimately, Gonzalez was forced to seek political asylum in Spain after the Maduro regime threatened to arrest him.

However, Gonzalez has vowed to return to Venezuela and be reinstated as the rightful president. 

Meanwhile, Maduro’s regime has publicly warned they will arrest Gonzalez if he dares to return to Venezuela and have reportedly placed a $100,000 bounty for information leading to his arrest.