González demands recognition of his victory in Venezuela, and the US seizes an oil tanker
In a new development in the ongoing political crisis in Caracas, prominent Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia , currently living in exile, stressed that any roadmap for the country's future or any transition of power must be based primarily and exclusively on recognizing the opposition's victory in the 2024 presidential elections . These strong statements underscore the continuing dispute over legitimacy between the opposition and the regime of President Nicolás Maduro.
Gonzales and Sanchez: The search for international legitimacy
During a phone call on Friday with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez , Venezuelan President Nicolás González Urrutia emphasized that "the restoration of democracy in Venezuela depends on the explicit recognition of the results of the July 28, 2024 elections." This communication comes at a time when Spain is playing a pivotal role as a bridge between the European Union and Latin America, and is currently hosting González, who fled his country following a widespread crackdown on opposition figures.
Background to the crisis: The controversial July 2024 elections
The roots of this escalation lie in the presidential elections held on July 28, 2014, in which the pro-government National Electoral Council declared Nicolás Maduro of a third term without providing detailed breakdowns of the vote. In contrast, the Venezuelan opposition collected and published thousands of tally sheets which, they asserted, proved González's victory by a significant margin. This discrepancy sparked widespread protests within Venezuela and led to broad refusal by the United States, the European Union, and Latin American countries to recognize Maduro's victory without full transparency.
US escalation: Seizure of the "ghost fleet"
In parallel with the political maneuvering, the United States continues to tighten its economic grip on the Maduro regime. Washington announced on Friday the seizure of a fifth oil tanker, the Olena, as part of its efforts to combat what is known as the "ghost fleet" used by Caracas to circumvent international sanctions.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem via the X platform that the seized tanker was attempting to transport prohibited oil after sailing from Venezuela in an effort to evade U.S. forces. This move underscores the U.S. administration's determination to close the loopholes exploited by the Venezuelan regime to export crude and obtain hard currency, thereby increasing economic pressure on the Maduro government to accept a peaceful transfer of power.
Expected repercussions
Observers believe that the combination of diplomatic pressure exerted by González from abroad and the economic blockade imposed by Washington presents the Maduro regime with difficult choices. However, the continuation of the crisis without a political solution threatens to worsen the humanitarian situation in Venezuela, which has already seen millions of its citizens flee in recent years in search of a better life.
