Venezuelan Ex-Presidential Candidate Says He’ll Return as “Elected President”

Venezuela’s former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez said on Friday that he will be returning to his country on January 10 to assume office as the “elected president.” Gonzalez contested against Nicolas Maduro in the July 28 presidential election. Maduro was declared re-elected for a third term. But the opposition claimed the results were rigged. 

 

 

In August, the OAS presented a resolution calling for an audit of Venezuela’s disputed presidential election. The election dispute revolves around tally sheets, known as “Actas.” The Actas serve as official evidence of election results.

The only independent organisation present at the Venezuelan elections, the Carter Centre, presented the Actas on October 2 during a session before the OAS. The Actas revealed the victory of the opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. It was revealed by the head of the Carter Centre’s electoral mission in Venezuela, Jennie Lincoln. 

This contradicts the results announced by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), which declared Maduro the winner for a third term.

The data, which is only accessible to the regime and the Venezuelan Armed Forces, was obtained via “international mail,” Lincoln stated.

 

 

“I was sent this by mail, and I will show it to you… These are original records from Venezuela that have a QR code, which is significant and allows witnesses from thousands and thousands of polling stations to systematically gather information,” explained Lincoln.

González, now in exile in Spain since September 9, said on Friday, “I am going to return to Venezuela as soon as possible, when we restore democracy in our country… I am going on Jan. 10 to take office as elected president.”