Henrique Capriles speaking at a press conference. Photo: File photo.
The Venezuelan former far-right opposition presidential candidate, Henrique Capriles, has made social media attacks on the fugitive from Venezuelan justice, Edmundo González Urrutia, and called on his followers to vote on the upcoming parliamentary and regional elections, recently rescheduled by the National Electoral Council (CNE) from April 27 until May 25.
Among the demands that Capriles made to González during a livestream broadcast this Tuesday, February 18, was the question that some followers of the former candidate and partner of María Corina Machado in the last presidential elections have been raising, regarding the reasons why González did not return to Venezuela to be sworn in on January 10, as he had promised on repeated occasions.
“Edmundo González made a mistake when he said he would come on January 10,” Capriles added, “he didn’t come and he didn’t explain why. Who was going to swear him in? Before whom? I don’t know who is advising him.”
On the other hand, albeit far from the speeches of María Corina Machado and González Urrutia, Capriles also called on his followers to vote in the regional and parliamentary elections of next May 25 as an “act of resistance” and as a way of “claiming” the presidential elections of July of last year. He rejected the non-participation in the upcoming electoral processes. “Electoral abstention is useless, not going to vote and staying at home is giving up,” he emphasized.
“I want to claim the July 28 election. How do I claim it? At home on April 27, on social media by making a broadcast, writing a message on social media, or organizing myself as I can, mobilizing as I can and going to vote against this government?” said the former governor of Miranda and two-time opposition presidential candidate.
Sobre el 28 de julio 2024 y el 27 de abril 2025 https://t.co/pZ3h7Zq8iq
— Henrique Capriles R. (@hcapriles) February 18, 2025
Reactions
In his live broadcast, Capriles received a number of negative comments while addressing his viewers. “He’s a traitor! He’s a sellout! How horrible! We’re shocked by Capriles’ position!” were the kinds of words of those who were tuned into the broadcast. The politician received other types of insults and abuse, which he ignored.
However, eventually one message must have apparently struck a chord and caught his attention to make him break his silence.
“It seems that the democratic opposition forces are more effective in destroying themselves and their own leaders than in destroying the government forces,” he responded to his viewers. “We cannot continue destroying or cannibalizing ourselves. Venezuelans are tired of this, and this adds to demotivation, demoralization, hopelessness, and intolerance.”
Finally, Capriles reiterated that if the opposition is to promote change, it must leave behind amoral and offensive behavior and give respectful space to the pluralism of opinions. He condemned the fact that even his small children have been subject to online attacks. “I do not aspire to public office, that is an intrigue of Maduro,” he said, responding to supporters pointing at his actions such as like pushing backstage negotiations with the US empire in order to regain control of the Venezuelan opposition.
PSUV Leader Diosdado Cabello: María Corina Machado Will Have Candidates in April 27 Elections
Democratic opposition
Opposition deputy Luis Eduardo Martínez said that a sector of the opposition agreed in a meeting held this Tuesday to go together to the elections, to advance a unity agreement for next May 25. This information was shared during an interview on the program “Here and Now,” hosted by journalist Julio Riobó, according to reports by RedRadioVE.
“In some cases, the agreement may not be perfect, and that is understandable and respectable, and in others it may be,” Martínez explained. “We are trying to show that as long as we work together, we will have greater representation in the National Assembly, the regional legislature, and the governorships that are in dispute.”
Martínez listed the democratic opposition political organizations that are actively participating in these conversations, noting that each of them agreed to be present in the upcoming elections: Democratic Action, Copei, Change, Cambiemos, Progressive Advancement, Justice First, Venezuela First, Vision Venezuela Unit, Republican Movement, Red Flag, Solutions, and Neighborhood Force.
Finally, the opposition politician also pointed out that the call for electoral abstention by the Venezuelan far-right opposition, led by María Corina Machado, who insists on the non-participation of the people in elections, is a serious blunder and an almost criminal act.
(RedRadioVE) by Victoria Torres with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/AU
