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Venezuelan Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Opposition Figure Edmundo González
A Venezuelan judge has issued an arrest warrant for Edmundo González, a former presidential candidate from the opposition, as part of a wider criminal investigation into the controversial results of the recent presidential election.
The arrest warrant was initiated at the behest of state authorities, who accuse González, a former diplomat, of multiple offenses, including conspiracy, falsifying documents, and usurpation of powers. This legal action follows closely on the heels of an election during which officials proclaimed President Nicolás Maduro the winner, a claim that opposition leaders vehemently contest.
González failed to appear before prosecutors three times to address queries related to the disputed election results, prompting authorities to pursue the warrant. Electoral officials loyal to the ruling party announced Maduro’s victory just hours after the polls closed on July 28, but did not provide detailed results to substantiate their declaration, a deviation from standards expected in previous elections.
This lack of transparency has spurred significant international criticism directed at Maduro and his government. In response to these events, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called for the global community to hold Venezuela accountable and has expressed substantial skepticism regarding the legitimacy of the election results.
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While officials declared Maduro the victor, the opposition managed to secure over 80 percent of the vote tally sheets, which are generated by all electronic voting machines. These sheets reportedly indicate that González won by a considerable margin.
The ongoing investigation was initiated by Attorney General Tarek William Saab shortly after González and fellow opposition leader María Corina Machado shared what they claimed were the results displayed in the tally sheets online. Despite mounting international pressure for clarity on the election’s outcome, Maduro’s regime and the National Electoral Council have yet to disclose their versions of the tally sheets from the voting machines.
In an unexpected move amid the growing scrutiny, Maduro has called upon the country’s high court to conduct an audit of the electoral process. However, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, comprised primarily of Maduro supporters, concluded that the opposition’s published vote counts were false, thereby reaffirming Maduro’s proclaimed victory on August 22.
González, aged 75, has remained out of the public eye since the day following the election. His campaign has not provided immediate commentary. He has voiced concerns regarding the legality of the prosecutors’ actions, claiming a lack of guaranteed due process, and has criticized Saab for what he views as a politically motivated role. He declined to comply with the summons for questioning, indicating that the conditions of his appearance were not sufficiently clarified.
In light of these developments, María Corina Machado condemned the Maduro administration as out of touch, stating through social media that the government’s actions only serve to consolidate support for González within Venezuela and worldwide.
An analysis conducted by the Associated Press of the opposition’s tally sheets reveals a stark contrast to the government’s claims. The review scrutinized nearly 24,000 images corresponding to the results from 79 percent of the voting machines, revealing tabulated votes totaling over 10 million. The tallies suggest a significant lead for González with over 20,000 votes documented for him against approximately 3,000 for Maduro.
Source
www.cbc.ca