Authorities in Venezuela have issued an arrest warrant against opposition leader Edmundo González.
Political tensions and unrest have intensified since a dispute over the results of the July presidential election — which the Government has insisted Nicolás Maduro won.
However, opposition candidate González declared victory after an independent vote count.
Now, González has been accused of criminal offences including conspiracy and forgery. It comes amid ongoing protest action across the country.
Nicolás Maduro
Maduro became President in 2013 after his predecessor Hugo Chávez was diagnosed with cancer. Maduro is a member of the United Socialist Party (PSUV).
He has been described as a “dictator” by his political opponents and global leaders including Argentine President Javier Milei.
Maduro has been criticised over his economic management of Venezuela. Earlier this year, a UN representative found more than half of Venezuelans couldn’t afford to buy food.
Edmundo González
González is a member of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), an opposition coalition of around 20 minor parties with varying political ideologies.
González was previously Venezuela’s ambassador to Algeria and Argentina. He was not a well-known political figure until he ran against Maduro this year.
He became an election frontrunner after opposition leader María Corina Machado was barred from office over allegations of fraud.
Machado worked closely with González on his presidential campaign.
Election results
Exit polls from the 28 July election showed González secured a significant majority of votes. Despite this, authorities declared Maduro the winner.
After counting 80% of the country’s votes, the National Electoral Council (NEC) announced that Maduro won 51% of votes, while González received 44%.
The NEC operates under Maduro’s power. It is yet to release any official vote tallies.
Dispute
González has since released a different vote count, which he says is based on direct results from voting booths. That count shows Maduro losing by 3.5 million votes.
González and his supporters launched action in Venezuela’s Supreme Court to dispute Maduro’s leadership.
Political unrest has continued to rise across the country since the election.
Protesters have clashed with security forces, with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas at crowds.
Supreme Court
In August, the Supreme Court upheld Maduro’s victory.
Venezuela’s highest court claimed it had validated the election results, but said the final tallies weren’t available.
The court blamed an alleged cyberattack on the night of the election. Like the NEC, the court operates under Maduro’s leadership.
In response to the ruling, the European Union has invited González to address EU Ministers.
EU response
Senior EU officials described the situation in Venezuela as “critical” during talks last week.
The Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs said González “has presented results that show Maduro has not won this election”.
“Clearly Maduro cannot be recognised as a legitimate winner,” officials said.
Venezuela’s Govt issues arrest warrant
This week, officials in Venezuela issued an arrest warrant against González for “serious crimes” like conspiracy and forging documents.
González’s ally Machado has accused Maduro of losing “all touch with reality.” She said the arrest warrant “only strengthens” the political movement to recognise González as leader.
In a post to X, the opposition MUD described Maduro’s leadership as a “regime”. It also stated that the arrest warrant against González goes against “the more than 8 million Venezuelans who voted for him.”
Global response
Several leaders and global protesters have accused Maduro of election interference.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric warned Chile “will not recognise any result that is not verifiable.”
Further, U.S. officials have called on electoral authorities to “ensure transparency” and make the results and counting process public.
Last month, thousands demonstrated around the world, including in Spain, Argentina, and Colombia, calling for election transparency.
