Edmundo González Urrutia, Maduro’s main rival in the Venezuelan elections: ‘I don’t feel afraid’
The writer and diplomat who has received the support of the majority opposition trusts that Chavismo will not disqualify his candidacy for the July election
Edmundo González Urrutia, 74, has left the balcony of his house open and the macaws that frequently fly through the twilight of the afternoons in Caracas pass by from a distance. González Urrutia has been attending to issues related to his new status as Venezuela’s opposition candidate all day, and, although he does not say it, he is tired. He responds briefly and prudently. He knows very well that, as a candidate of the democratic forces in Venezuela’s political situation, he is approaching a turbulent period. In the winter of his life, it may be his turn to lead the political transition in Venezuela after more than two decades of Chavismo, the political movement linked to former president Hugo Chávez.
Diplomat, academic, writer, González Urrutia is a man used to keeping a low profile, reluctant to be strident. He considers himself “a moderate.” He has spent years discreetly collaborating with the Unitary Platform — the alliance of majority opposition parties — on various issues of governance and international politics. Before the interview, he comments with some surprise that, after being anointed as the candidate tasked with defeating Nicolás Maduro at the polls if the elections are fair and transparent, everyone has started greeting him on the street. A photo of him with the caption “Edmundo for everyone” went viral.
The proposal made to him by the rest of the opposition — in particular María Corina Machado, the undisputed leader of the anti-Chavismo movement — took him by surprise: he never wanted to be a candidate, but that’s what circumstances have led to and in the end, he was not able to refuse. Once he accepted, his candidacy has been met with surprisingly unanimous support, good news for a historically divided opposition.
Question. What did you feel when they proposed for you to be a candidate? Were you expecting it?
Answer. I didn't have time to react. I felt a great sense of responsibility for what was coming my way.
Q. Was it María Corina Machado who pushed for this idea?
A. I think it was a joint effort, although she of course was a fundamental actor. Other names were raised, such as Omar Barboza [former president of the Venezuelan National Assembly] or José Luis Cartaya [a long-time opponent of Maduro].
Q. How do you feel about what is coming? Can the political situation in Venezuelan be changed with elections?
A. I’m not pessimistic. I want to be realistic, it is an immense challenge. As I get to know and understand things, I see that there is a good work plan, there is a common baseline program that is well-founded and discussed. And the primary elections were a political success that consolidated this effort.
Q. Have you been met with hostility by Chavismo?
A. No. One might think that they would send threatening, offensive messages. Except for some things said on [lawmaker] Diosdado Cabello’s program or some isolated aggression, nothing more.
Q. Have you thought about the fragility of your candidacy, about the possibility that Chavismo will not allow you to advance?
A. I think they would have already done it. If they wanted to take us out of the game, this was the perfect opportunity, and they didn’t do it.
Q. Do you think that Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva may have influenced Nicolás Maduro to allow you to stand for election?
A. They helped, without a doubt.
Q. The Supreme Court of Venezuela could annul your candidacy without any grounds.
A. Of course, it could happen, the grounds can be anything. But I honestly don’t think they thought about that right away.
Q. What message would you send to Chavismo?
A. That this is a proposal for the entire country, those who believe in our political movement. And also for those who do not believe, for those who believed or believe in the ruling party, for all the people who want to have another country, who today are disappointed. This is a movement that offers full guarantees for everyone.
Q. What role does María Corina Machado play in your candidacy and in this campaign?
A. She is the leader of this entire process. On October 22, millions of Venezuelans voted for her: it is a mandate.
Q. Have you thought that, if you become president, you will have to face institutions completely dominated by Chavismo?
A. I have the suspicion that, after the elections, a new political reality may occur here. Many people, and many people in the government, may be surprised, left without arguments.
Q. But Chavismo can nullify any popular pronouncement without any grounds.
A. Yes, it can. But they have had several opportunities and so far they have not done it.
Q. Do you have an organic relationship with the Unitary Platform?
A. It is very old. Yesterday I had my first face-to-face meeting with all the members of the Platform. In excellent terms, I must say. There is an important agreement here, I have been elected unanimously.
Q. Have you spoken with Manuel Rosales, one of the most important opponents, who now supports you?
A. Yes, I saw him. He was very calm, very cordial, we had a nice conversation. I thanked him personally for his gesture of support, which we must recognize.
Q. How do you define yourself politically?
A. As a democrat, a moderate person, far from extreme positions.
Q. How would you govern Venezuela with the Armed Forces aligned with Chavismo?
A. I sincerely hope that paths of understanding can be sought with the Armed Forces, between July 28 [the date of the election] and January 2025 [when the six-year presidential term begins]. There are decisions, positions, that can be finalized later, although now they are not on the radar.
Q. Would you consider granting amnesty in Venezuela that includes the Chavistas?
A. We have to do everything that we need to in order to reconcile the country, to leave conflict behind, to mitigate the spirit of conflict. For that, you need vision.
Q. What is going to be your central campaign message to the Venezuelan people?
A. Let’s support the democratic reconstruction of Venezuela’s institutions.
Q. Including Chavismo.
A. To everyone who is willing to participate in re-institutionalization.
Q. Would you talk to Nicolás Maduro?
A. If we are promoting understanding among all Venezuelans, that is part of that path.
Q. Have you had any involvement in the economic program, or do you have to stick to the platform’s one?
A. María Corina's group has a very advanced government program, the platform also has it.
Q. When you entered as a fill-in candidate — a provisional one who gives way to another — did you not suspect that you were going to end up being the candidate?
A. Not at all. I was naive.
Q. When did you start to suspect that this was serious?
A. The day that they called me, and were signing the statement saying that they had designated me as a candidate.
Q. Do you think you will end up being Maduro’s rival on July 28? The fact is that the platform has a right to change candidates within the framework of the Barbados Agreement.
A. Anything is possible, although I can’t imagine not being the candidate.
Q. Have you been in contact with other minority opposition candidates who are also running, such as Antonio Ecarri or Enrique Márquez?
A. I have not had contact with them, but I am going to call them.
Q. What scenario would we be in if, for example, there was fraud in the election?
A. That is why the voting defense teams — a very advanced, immense machinery, with many organizations, networks, commands — is a very serious job. And a lot of people are involved there, in very high numbers.
Q. Is this response due to María Corina?
A. If there were any doubts or misgivings about María Corina’s candidacy, she has handled it intelligently. She has handled it in a way in which today no one disputes her leadership.
Q. You feel like you’re being recognized on the street.
A. Yes.
Q. Does it bother you?
A. No.
Q. Are you afraid?
A. I haven't been through that yet.
Q. Have you spoken with international players?
A. Yes, I have been in contact. They are following the issue with great interest and great responsibility. Especially in Colombia and Brazil, which are preparing a guarantee plan.
Q. The meme “Edmundo for the whole world” with a picture of your face, went viral on social media.
A. That’s dangerous. That is why my message is directed to Maduro and Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the National Assembly and right-hand man of the president. They have well-slicked channels open with Gerardo Blyde, the head of the Unitary Platform delegation. That dialogue works, it is fluid, and it is what has allowed some of the things that have made this possible.
Q. They are going to say that you are the candidate picked by the U.S.
A. Maduro already said that. It doesn’t bother me, I haven’t thought about that.
Q. Whose candidate would you say you are?
A. Of all Venezuelan democrats. That’s the reality.
Q. Would your possible government be unstable, since Chavismo has control of the entire state?
A. It depends on the support we have. If we arrive with a massive vote, with the international community supporting us, it is very difficult for the government to distort that reality.
Q. How would Chavismo behave in the opposition?
A. It could be very difficult, it could be an ungovernable country.
Q. And you would be in charge.
A. Well…
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