Edmundo González facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edmundo González
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González in 2025
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| Ambassador of Venezuela to Argentina |
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| In office November 1998 – July 2002 |
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| President | Rafael Caldera Hugo Chávez |
| Ambassador of Venezuela to Algeria |
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| In office 1991–1993 |
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| President | Carlos Andrés Pérez |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Edmundo González Urrutia
29 August 1949 La Victoria, Aragua, Venezuela |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations |
MUD (2013–2021) PU (since 2021) |
| Spouse |
Mercedes López
(m. 1973) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents | Pascual González Hilda Urrutia |
| Residences | Madrid, Spain |
| Alma mater | Central University of Venezuela American University |
| Occupation | Diplomat, politician |
| Awards | Sakharov Prize (2024) |
Edmundo González Urrutia (born 29 August 1949) is a Venezuelan politician, analyst, and diplomat. He is known for being a figure in the Venezuelan opposition, a group that works against the current government. In 2024, he was the candidate for the Unitary Platform political alliance in the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election.
After the election, a political situation developed. The Venezuelan government announced that Nicolás Maduro won, but many experts believed this was not based on the actual votes. Countries around the world had different reactions. Many democratic nations, like the U.S. and most European and some Latin American countries, did not accept the official results. They recognized González as the winner. However, some countries, including Russia and China, recognized Maduro as the winner.
Maduro did not give up power. Instead, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, whose judges supported Maduro, approved the results. An arrest warrant was issued for González, who was accused of several crimes. He was granted asylum in Spain and left Venezuela on 7 September 2024.
González has also worked as Venezuela's ambassador to Argentina and Algeria. He is also part of the team that helps decide what goes into the newspaper El Nacional. In December 2024, he received the Sakharov Prize along with María Corina Machado.
Contents
About Edmundo González
Edmundo González Urrutia was born in La Victoria, Aragua, Venezuela, in 1949. His mother was a schoolteacher, and his father owned a shop. He studied international relations at the Central University of Venezuela. Later, in 1981, he earned a Master of Arts degree in international relations from the American University in the United States.
His Work as a Diplomat
A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. González started his career working for Venezuela's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He worked in different countries like El Salvador and Belgium. In 1978, he served as a first secretary for the Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States.
From 1991 to 1993, González was Venezuela's Ambassador to Algeria. He then became the Director General of International Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 1999. In November 1998, he became the ambassador to Argentina. While in Argentina, he helped Venezuela try to join Mercosur, a group of South American countries that work together on trade. His time as ambassador to Argentina ended in July 2002.
His Political Journey
From 2013 to 2015, González was the international representative for the Democratic Unity Roundtable (UMD). This was a political group of different opposition parties in Venezuela.
In the 2020s, he became the president of the Unitary Platform. This group is the successor to the MUD and is also an alliance of opposition parties.
Running for President
Why He Became a Candidate
María Corina Machado won the opposition's primary election to become their candidate for the 2024 presidential election. However, the National Electoral Council (CNE) said she could not hold political office. Then, her chosen replacement, Corina Yoris, also faced problems that stopped her from officially registering. Because of this, Edmundo González was chosen as the Unitary Platform's presidential candidate. On 20 April 2024, another major opposition candidate, Manuel Rosales, stopped his own campaign and supported González.
On 26 March 2024, the CNE confirmed that González was officially a candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
What He Stood For
In April 2024, González said that Venezuela needed to stop its internal fights and disagreements. He believed everyone should work together for Venezuela's recovery and a smooth change in government. He saw his candidacy as a way to help unite people and work towards a democratic future.
González also mentioned that he never expected to be in this position and had no personal ambitions for it. He continued to refer to María Corina Machado as "the leader of the opposition." His main goals were to bring Venezuelans together, allow political exiles to return, and help the economy and democracy recover.
Election Outcome
Many news organizations, like The Sunday Times, reported that González was widely seen as the true winner of the election. However, the CNE announced different results, which led to a political crisis in Venezuela. Most democratic countries in the Americas did not recognize Maduro as the winner. Countries like Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama recognized Edmundo González's victory. On the other hand, countries like China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and North Korea recognized Maduro as the winner.
Maduro did not accept the results that showed he lost. Instead, he asked the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) to review and approve the results. On 22 August 2024, the TSJ confirmed the CNE's statement that Maduro won the election.
Living in Spain
On 2 September 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for González. He was accused of crimes like "usurpation of functions" and "conspiracy." After the election, González secretly sought safety in the Dutch Embassy. He then spent several days in the Spanish embassy in Caracas. He was granted asylum, which means he was given protection by Spain. He left Venezuela on a Spanish Armed Forces flight on 7 September 2024. His wife traveled with him to Madrid, where one of their daughters lives. On 24 October 2024, González, along with María Corina Machado, received the Sakharov Prize.
His Beliefs
People have described González as a moderate and someone who tries to find common ground. He was not involved in politics during his time as a diplomat, working for different presidents. While he has worked against the governments of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, his approach has been described as peaceful. Unlike some others in the opposition, González has often supported talking with Maduro's government.
Family Life
Since 1973, Edmundo González has been married to Mercedes Marina López Unzueta, who is a dentist. They have two daughters: Mariana del Carmen, born on 16 July 1976, and Carolina, born on 4 January 1980 in Washington, D.C.. They also have four grandchildren.
See also
In Spanish: Edmundo González para niños
