CARACAS (AP) 鈥� ‘s former opposition candidate called on Saturday for presidential elections as the five-month mark of interim President Delcy Rodr铆guez鈥檚 administration approaches in the wake of the U.S. military intervention that ousted in early January.
The 76-year-old former diplomat was recognized by several countries as the legitimate winner of the July 2024 elections amid a post-election crisis and street protests as the opposition alleged fraud.
Electoral records that showed Gonz谩lez鈥檚 victory over Maduro were deemed credible by international observers.
In a message posted on social media, Gonz谩lez stated that it is time to 鈥渂uild the conditions for holding presidential elections that serve as citizen instruments for change鈥� and contribute to the re-institutionalization of the country and lay the foundations for a stable government.
His message comes just shy of the five-month anniversary of on Jan. 5, following the arrest of Maduro and his wife, who are being prosecuted in the United States.
Maduro鈥檚 former ally Rodr铆guez was recognized as president by the administration of , and the two countries have since made progress on a series of agreements that include the lifting of sanctions and negotiations in the oil and energy sectors, as well as the normalization of diplomatic relations.
Neither Caracas nor Washington has given any indication that elections are imminent in Venezuela. The U.S. has recognized Rodr铆guez as Venezuela鈥檚 sole head of state, allowing her to reestablish ties with Western banks and more freely work with U.S. investors.
According to Gonz谩lez, an electoral process must have 鈥渋ndependent referees,鈥� national and international observation and political pluralism, among other conditions, with the release of political prisoners and 鈥渁n end to the persecution鈥� being non-negotiable.
The opposition leader asserted that he is the 鈥済uardian鈥� of the mandate of his constituents, who chose 鈥渇reedom鈥� for Venezuela in the 2024 election. Since September that year, Gonz谩lez has been in exile in Spain after Maduro’s administration issued an arrest warrant for him on charges of conspiracy, usurpation and the falsification of public documents 鈥� charges that he has vehemently denied.
Gonz谩lez gained prominence when he was named as the substitute candidate for opposition leader , who was barred from participating in the elections.
Corina Machado recently met with opposition leaders in Panama, advocating for a democratic transition in Venezuela. She insisted she would return before the end of the year to run for president.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
