Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia left the Dominican Republic on Tuesday after a tour across the Americas. González arrived in Santo Domingo last week, but his next destination is still unknown, according to airport sources who spoke with the news agency EFE.
Flight Heading West, Likely Destination Guatemala
The private jet carrying González took off from La Isabela International Airport in Santo Domingo around 1:30 p.m. (local time), as reported. Although the exact destination hasn’t been confirmed, the flight seems to be heading west, and the flight tracker FlightAWare suggests that the most likely destination is Guatemala.
Last Stop on the American Tour
Santo Domingo was the final stop in González’s American tour, where he sought to gain international support ahead of the January 10th inauguration of Nicolás Maduro, who was sworn in as president by the National Assembly, controlled by the ruling party, in a highly controversial ceremony.
González’s Statement: “We’ll See Each Other Soon in Caracas”
On January 10th, González also addressed the nation from the Dominican Republic, expressing his proximity to Venezuela and his readiness to return.
“I am very close to Venezuela, I am ready for safe entry, and when the time is right, I will assert the votes that represent the recovery of our democracy,” he said.
González considers himself Venezuela’s elected president, following the presidential elections in July 2024, in which, according to him, he won. “I am still working on the conditions for my return to Venezuela,” he added, and once the conditions are met, he will assume the presidency and the commander-in-chief of the National Armed Forces.
A Message to the Armed Forces
¡Compatriotas venezolanos!
Represento la voluntad de casi 8 millones de venezolanos dentro de la patria, y la de los millones de compatriotas a quienes se les impidió votar en el extranjero, y tengo el deber de defender ese compromiso. pic.twitter.com/697Z9ISP08
— Edmundo González (@EdmundoGU) January 10, 2025
In his statement, González also made a call to the military high command. He ordered them to ignore any illegal orders that might come from those he believes have usurped power. He also asked them to prepare security arrangements for his presidential assumption.
“Stop the repression,” he ordered the military and police forces, urging them to disregard Maduro’s regime in the name of peace for Venezuela.
The Electoral Contest with Maduro
On July 28, 2024, González faced Nicolás Maduro in a highly contested presidential election. The opposition bloc, led by González, claims it won the election, based on documents they say they gathered. However, the National Electoral Council (CNE) in Venezuela, declared Maduro the winner.
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