The Times view on Maduro’s Venezuela: Rogue Regime
- Nicolás Maduro declared himself the winner of the July presidential elections in Venezuela, ignoring polling evidence.
- Edmundo González, the true victor, fled to Spain to escape persecution from the Maduro regime.
- International support for González and opposition to Maduro's regime is essential for preserving democracy in Venezuela.
In July, Nicolás Maduro declared himself the winner of Venezuela's presidential elections, disregarding all polling evidence that suggested otherwise. The actual victor was Edmundo González, a retired diplomat who was forced to run after the regime barred opposition leader María Corina Machado from participating. Following the elections, González faced threats from the Maduro regime, which sought to imprison him on fabricated charges. To escape this persecution, he fled to Spain, where he was granted asylum by the Spanish government. This decision highlights the urgent need for international support for those opposing Maduro's oppressive regime. Democratic nations in Europe and the Americas are called upon to stand against the repression in Venezuela and to support the fight for democracy and human rights in the country.