Cuban opposition leader Rosa María Payá, head of the Cuba Decide movement and a human rights advocate on the island, met on Tuesday in Madrid with Edmundo González Urrutia, who was recently recognized by the United States as the elected president of Venezuela following the elections on July 28.
Payá, a staunch critic of the Cuban regime and its influence in Latin America, used the meeting to reaffirm her support for the struggle for democracy in Venezuela.
"It is time for Spain and the entire European Union to recognize the President chosen by the Venezuelans," Payá stated in a message on social media.
The activist also expressed her solidarity with the Venezuelan opposition, particularly with María Corina Machado and the Venezuelan people. "Let María Corina and the brave Venezuelan people know that free Cubans stand with you until the end," she added.
One of the key points of the conversation was Payá's denunciation of the Cuban regime's interference in Venezuela's internal affairs, which she claims has been "essential to the collapse of democracy" in the South American country.
The Cuban opposition leader stated that free Cubans have the responsibility to support Venezuelans in their fight to regain democracy and sovereignty.
The meeting between Payá and González Urrutia comes at a crucial moment, following the official recognition by the United States government on Tuesday of González as the "elected president" of Venezuela. This designation highlights Washington's stance on the legitimacy of the election results, despite allegations of fraud and Nicolás Maduro's proclamation as re-elected by the National Electoral Council (CNE).
Although on August 1 the United States had recognized González as the winner of the elections, this Tuesday marks the first formal announcement in which he is awarded the title of "president-elect."
This designation comes in the context of increasing opposition to Maduro's re-election and amid a political crisis that has created significant international pressure from governments and democratic organizations.
González Urrutia, who has been in exile in Spain since September due to political persecution by the Maduro regime, expressed gratitude for international support and reaffirmed his commitment to restoring democracy in Venezuela.
On their social media, they expressed: "We deeply appreciate the recognition of the sovereign will of all Venezuelans. This gesture honors the desire for change of our people."
The meeting between Rosa María Payá and Edmundo González takes place after the Cuban opposition figure held a conversation in September with María Corina Machado, another prominent figure in the Venezuelan opposition. During that live discussion, broadcasted on various platforms, Payá and Machado talked about the importance of freedom in Venezuela and its impact on the entire region.
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