Gonzalez Urrutia fails to deliver electoral records to top court
4 Min Read
The Venezuelan opposition far-right candidate has not submitted his party's electoral records to the Supreme Court.
-
Supporters hold an electoral poster promoting Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia during the launch of his campaign for the upcoming election, in La Victoria, Venezuela, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP)
Venezuelan opposition far-right candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia defied a Supreme Court order on Wednesday by failing to appear at the Electoral Chamber hearing to present the voting records from the July 28 presidential elections.
Supreme Court President Caryslia Rodriguez had previously summoned all former presidential candidates to submit their electoral records between August 7 and 9, in response to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s request for a thorough investigation into the election to address allegations of fraud.
Judge Rodriguez formally confirmed that Gonzalez Urrutia, the candidate for the Democratic Unity Platform (PUD), did not attend the hearing, thereby disobeying a direct order from the Supreme Court.
"The failure to appear before the Electoral Chamber will have the consequences provided for in our current legal system," Rodriguez warned in her subpoenas to the political parties.
In the July 28 elections, Maduro was re-elected as president of Venezuela for the 2025-2031 term with 51.9% of the votes.
Multiple countries, including the United States and several Latin American nations, have recognized Gonzalez Urrutia as the winner and called on Venezuelan authorities to publish election data.
Gonzalez Urrutia, who declared himself president, also ignored a previous summons from the Supreme Court. His party rejected the election results, which led to Western-backed violent riots on July 29 and 30 and resulted in significant property damage, the deaths of two security agents, and injuries to over 140 people.
The 74-year-old, who was summoned to appear in court on Wednesday morning, expressed doubts about the impartiality of the procedure.
"I will be jeopardizing not only my freedom but, more importantly: the will of the Venezuelan people expressed on July 28," Gonzalez Urrutia posted on social media.
He claimed that Maduro had warned, "that if I do not appear, I will incur legal responsibilities, and that if I appear and file copies (of voting records), there will also be serious criminal responsibilities."
Before the election, Gonzalez Urrutia did not sign the "Agreement to Recognize the Presidential Election Results," a political ethics pledge signed by eight out of ten candidates to acknowledge the results and promote peace in the country.
Venezuela's Electoral Chamber received on Wednesday representatives from various right-wing organizations, including Zulia Governor Manuel Rosales (A New Time party), Jose Cartaya (Democratic Unity Roundtable), and Jose Calzadilla (Movement for Venezuela). According to the Telesur news network, none of them provided evidence or records to the judges.
Representatives from parties supporting former candidates Jose Brito (Venezuela First Movement) and Luis Eduardo Martinez (Democratic Action) are also expected to attend the Electoral Chamber.
On his part, Maduro will appear Friday before the Supreme Court to deliver all records in possession of his United Socialist Party of Venezuela.
The Court has said it would take at least 15 days to come to a decision.
In a déjà vu situation, Maduro's previous reelection in 2018 was rejected as a sham by dozens of Latin American countries and other nations, including the United States and EU members.
On Monday, Maduro accused TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp of "cyber fascism" and hate-mongering against the country in the aftermath of the election.
He also accused the platforms of "spreading hatred aimed at dividing the Venezuelan people, inciting massacre and division in Venezuela and spreading fascism in Venezuela," describing the attempt as a "criminal coup d'etat."
Read more: Venezuelan Court launches criminal probe into opposition post-election
