Posters featuring the image of Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, labeled with "Se busca" ("Wanted"), have appeared on walls and digital screens at Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas. The Venezuelan regime says it's offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest days before the country's scheduled date for the presidential inauguration.
González has been in exile in Spain since September. He fled Venezuela after facing charges linked to the disclosure of election documents that the opposition claimed proved electoral fraud in the July 28 vote, which Maduro claims to have won but hasn't backed with documentation. The opposition has contested the results, presenting documents they say show González as the rightful victor, an outcome supported by the U.S.
The 75-year-old former diplomat negotiated safe passage through the Spanish embassy in Caracas after an arrest warrant was issued against him. He continues to campaign against Maduro from Madrid. González, who denies the allegations of conspiracy, document forgery, and money laundering brought against him, has vowed to return to Venezuela to claim the presidency but has not provided a timeline.
As tensions grow, González is set to begin a Latin American tour aimed at rallying support for Venezuela's opposition. His first stop is Argentina, where he is expected to meet President Javier Milei on Saturday. The visit underscores a widening diplomatic rift between Maduro's administration and Milei, a vocal critic of leftist regimes in the region.
The opposition has called for nationwide protests to challenge Maduro's claim to a third term. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, barred from holding public office and currently in hiding, has been leading the movement.
While Maduro plans to be sworn in on January 10 before a parliament dominated by his allies, international scrutiny continues to mount. Several Latin American countries, as well as the U.S. and the EU, have refused to recognize his victory, calling for transparency and credible evidence of the election results.
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