World January 13, 2025 - 2:18 pm
Uncertainty surrounds Edmundo González’s whereabouts
Santo Domingo.- The hotel where Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González stayed in Santo Domingo last week no longer shows signs of the heightened security seen in recent days. Police and SWAT presence, previously evident, has dissipated, and the press, once stationed outside the hotel, is no longer monitoring the area. González’s current location remains undisclosed, fueling speculation about whether he is still in the Dominican Republic or has moved on after his efforts to garner international support for his claim to Venezuela’s presidency.
González arrived in Santo Domingo from Panama last Wednesday, participating in events with Dominican President Luis Abinader and former Latin American leaders. At the National Palace, Abinader voiced support for Venezuela’s opposition, urging the Chavista regime to enable a peaceful democratic transition. González also joined a rally in Santo Domingo as part of global opposition protests. On January 10, the day Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for another term by the Chavista-controlled National Assembly, González released a message asserting his readiness to return to Venezuela and assume the presidency, which he claims was rightfully won in the disputed July elections.
Declaring himself president-elect and commander-in-chief, González called on Venezuela’s military to disobey orders from Maduro’s regime and to prepare conditions for his return. He accused Maduro of orchestrating a coup and urged national institutions to reject the government’s legitimacy. The July 28 election remains contested, with the opposition alleging victory based on collected minutes, while the government-controlled National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner.