Venezuelan Armed Forces reject Edmundo González’s call: they call him a “coward”

The Venezuelan Armed Forces condemned this Monday, January 6, 2025, “with deep indignation” the call by the opposition Edmundo González Urrutia to recognize him as president after denouncing the re-election of the leftist ruler Nicolás Maduro as a fraud.

“We have seen with deep indignation a video published last night, Sunday, January 5, by the coward Edmundo González Urrutia, addressing the Bolivarian National Armed Forces in a shameless and insolent manner (…). We categorically and with absolute vehemence reject this clownish and buffoonish act of despicable politicking,” indicates a statement read on state television by the Minister of Defense, General Vladimir Padrino.

(Also read: Edmundo González urges Venezuelans to take to the streets before taking office)

Venezuelan authorities ratified military support for Maduro

“Let the entire world know, on January 10, 2025 we will ratify the irreducible commitment to Venezuelan democracy and recognize citizen Nicolás Maduro Moros as constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, re-elected for the period 2025-2031, whom “We, as our commander in chief, will solemnly swear loyalty, obedience and subordination,” he added.

On Friday, January 10, Maduro is scheduled to be sworn in before Parliament, controlled by the ruling party, for a third term that projects him to 18 years in power.

On Sunday, January 5, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia released a video on social networks addressed to the Armed Forces to ask for support. “On January 10, by the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people, I must assume the role of commander in chief,” said the 75-year-old diplomat, while María Corina Machado, opposition leader, called for protests on the day. 9.

Maduro was proclaimed by the National Electoral Council (CNE) as winner of the elections on July 28 with 52% of the votes, without publishing a detailed count, as required by law. The opposition published on a website copies of electoral records with which they claim a victory for González, documents whose validity Chavismo denies.

More than 1,500 prisoners in Venezuela have been released

More than 1,500 of those arrested during protests against the questioned re-election of President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela They were released from prison, the Prosecutor’s Office reported this Monday after new releases that occurred over the weekend. Some 2,400 people were arrested as part of demonstrations that broke out after allegations of opposition fraud in the July 28 presidential elections, which left 28 dead and almost 200 injured.

AFP

“A total of 146 reviews (of cases) were requested and agreed on January 3, 2025, which added to those processed previously (…) give a total number of 1,515 releases,” the Public Ministry reported in a release. The detainees, who include a hundred teenagers, all now released, were accused of “terrorism” and other crimes. They were taken to maximum security prisons.

Relatives of the detainees have held numerous demonstrations to demand their release, while denouncing mistreatment of their loved ones, poor nutrition and denial of medical care. Three of those arrested died in prison.