What is happening in recent weeks is increasingly taking on the appearance of a farce. VenezuelaThe debates elezioni prezidenziali of last July 28th they reconfirmed the outgoing Nicolas Maduro, but the international community, starting with the South American countries themselves and also political allies such as Brazilian President Lula, she didn't trust the result and in some cases – the United States, Argentina, Peru – in addition to asking for a recount, it has also recognized Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the 75-year-old former diplomat and opposition candidate, as the legitimate winner.
After weeks of very strong tensions, street clashes and the imprisonment of political dissidents and even journalists, the decision of Attorney General Tarek Saab to issue an arrest warrant for Gonzalez, who as of last Monday is wanted on several charges, including disobedience to the law, conspiracy and sabotage. At the moment the arrest has not been carried out, Gonzalez is a fugitive but according to what his lawyer has said he does not intend to seek asylum at an embassy in Caracas, while some rumors would have him fleeing abroad.
European Foreign Ministers Do Not Recognize Maduro's 'Democratic Legitimacy'
The judge's decision, according to which Gonzalez risks up to 30 years in prison, has been greeted with great concern by the international community and the European Union is also keeping a watchful eye. Indeed, the European Foreign Ministers participated in a video call with the Venezuelan opposition leader last week, agreeing not to recognize the “democratic legitimacy” of Maduro's re-election.
Maduro wants to celebrate Christmas on October 1st
According to opponents and even some independent international bodies, in fact, Gonzalez actually won the elections by a landslide, with 67% of the votes, against only 30% for the outgoing president. Who, to distract public opinion in a country devastated by poverty and forced to mass emigration for years, has come up with another one of his: to bring forward the Christmas celebrations on October 1st. An absurdity that the Chavista leader, in power uninterruptedly since 2013 and in theory until 2031, had already proposed a couple of times during Covid. In that case, one could have thought of a diversion to cheer up the difficulties of the pandemic, but this time the reasons are exquisitely propagandistic and populist, so much so that the announcement came not coincidentally in conjunction with the news of the arrest warrant for rival Gonzalez: "It's September but it already smells like Christmas - Maduro raved during a television program he hosted and that bears his name -: this year, in homage to you, to thank all of you, I have decided to bring forward Christmas to October 1st. It will be a Christmas of peace, happiness and security for everyone".
