The Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) has officially announced the candidacy of Edmund Gonzalez Urrutia as the unity candidate in the upcoming presidential elections. This decision was made after a long meeting involving all parties within the opposition coalition, with Maria Corina Machado and Manuel Rosales both unanimously approving it.
Gonzalez, who is 72 years old, was selected as the candidate following challenges with the registration process that involved Corina Yoris. He will be facing incumbent president Nicolás Maduro in the election scheduled for July 28. During the meeting, PUD General Secretary Omar Barboza made the announcement of Gonzalez’s candidacy, acknowledging that it represented a historic decision for Venezuela’s democracy.
Barboza praised Governor Manuel Rosales for stepping down in favor of Gonzalez’s candidacy and expressed confidence that political change could be achieved through electoral means. The candidate has a background in international relations, diplomacy, and political analysis and has authored several publications on democracy, peace, international relations, and corruption. His quiet demeanor stands in contrast to the noisy and aggressive image projected by Chavismo and President Maduro. Despite never having run for elective office before, Gonzalez is seen as a formidable choice for the opposition due to his experience and expertise in foreign affairs.
