The candidate of Venezuela's main opposition coalition, Edmundo González Urrutia, announced on Thursday his intention to establish "cordial relations" with China, Russia, and the United States if he wins the presidential election on July 28, where he will face nine other candidates, including President Nicolás Maduro.
"We hope to maintain the most cordial relations on the basis of respect, sovereignty, what we've always been, countries that maintain bonds and important historic ties. We hope to maintain positive relations with the three of them in the broadest sense"
China and Russia have been among Maduro's closest allies, while the Venezuelan government has ongoing tensions with the United States due to economic sanctions imposed by Washington. González Urrutia also assured that he would maintain cordial relations with all countries in the hemisphere, referring to other countries in South America.
Elsewhere, González Urrutia also addressed the possibility that the military could fail to recognize the election results on Sunday:
"We're going to win and we trust that the Armed Forces will respect the will of the people. Millions of Venezuelans want change."
His comments come after Venezuelan Defense Minister Padrino López came out earlier this week to express the Armed Forces' loyalty to defend Sunday's results, whichever they may be:
"Those who win can get on with their government plan, those who lose can go and take a break. We will do what we have always done: defend the constitution and the people's sovereignty. Make no mistakes!"
While the government is widely expected to resort to maneuvers to stay in power, the statement from López is a departure from the outright threat by Maduro last week who warned there will be a 'bloodbath' and a 'civil war' if his party doesn't win the elections
Thursday marked the end of the campaign trail and both major candidates staged political rallies in Caracas, the country's capital, drawing thousands of people to the streets in support. State television transmitted live the entirety of Maduro's rally and ignored the opposition's event.
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