Argentina Recognizes Venezuelan Opposition Leader as Elect President
President Javier Milei of Argentina held a tense meeting today with Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, deemed the winner of July’s presidential elections by the international community, despite the Venezuelan government’s recognition of Nicolás Maduro. González Urrutia, now exiled in Spain, was received as the democratically elected leader of Venezuela by the Argentine government.
The meeting transpired amidst ongoing tensions between the two countries over the detention of Argentine Nahuel Gallo, a gendarme held in Venezuela. Recently, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures to Gallo at the request of the Argentine government.
During the meeting, Argentine and Venezuelan officials greeted crowds from the Casa Rosada balcony, with Venezuelan protesters chanting "presidente" and "¡va a caer, este gobierno va a caer!" (this government is going to fall down).
Edmundo González Urrutia, along with Corina Machado, another pro-democracy leader, plans to return to Venezuela on January 10, 2024, to assume the presidency, stating, "The Venezuelan constitution only allows for one president. I am the one who will take office on January 10."
The meeting took place amidst an ongoing diplomatic crisis, as Venezuela expelled the Argentine diplomatic corps following Milei’s recognition of González Urrutia as the legitimate winner of the elections and his accusation of fraud against Nicolás Maduro.
Milei’s recognition of González Urrutia aligns with international figures like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while Venezuela’s Supreme Court has reiterated Maduro’s presidency.
Hundreds of Venezuelans living in Argentina gathered outside the Casa Rosada to show their support for González Urrutia, with chants of "¡Presidente!" ringing as he emerged onto the balcony with Milei.
