Venezuela opp urges election recognition

MADRID:

Exiled Venezuelan opposition figurehead Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia on Friday said any democratic transition in the country must recognise his claimed victory in 2024 presidential elections declared to be won by seized strongman Nicolas Maduro.

A deadly overnight US military raid on Caracas last weekend captured Maduro and brought him to New York to face trial on drug-related charges, raising opposition hopes for a regime change.

But US President Donald Trump has backed Maduro's former vice president Delcy Rodriguez as interim leader as long as Caracas collaborates and gives Washington access to its vast oil reserves.

Maduro was declared the winner of the 2024

election amid claims of fraud by the opposition, which provided detailed voting records to back their claim that Gonzalez Urrutia comfortably defeated him.

Gonzalez Urrutia fled to Spain that year after the authorities cracked down on protests following the election.