The elected president of Venezuela Edmundo González Urrutia called for the release of political prisoners and for respect for the "will of the Venezuelan people."
In a message posted on his social media, González called for a democratic transition in Venezuela.
In a statement published on Instagram, the opposition leader said that "true normalization will only be possible when all political prisoners are freed and the majority will expressed on July 28, 2024, is respected without ambiguity. He indicated that only under those conditions can a serious and responsible process of democratic transition begin.”
"The departure from the country of the one who usurped power and their submission to justice creates a new scenario, but it does not replace the fundamental tasks that remain, including the immediate and unconditional release of all citizens detained for political, civil, and military reasons," he added.
Urrutia recalled that his legitimacy stems from the popular mandate and the support of the Venezuelans: “The transition must be built with responsibility, firmness, and national unity.”
"Venezuela needs truth, justice, and reconciliation, without impunity, to ensure that power is not exercised against the citizens again," he added.
He also called on the Armed Forces "to fulfill and enforce the sovereign mandate expressed at the polls, reminding them that their loyalty belongs to the Constitution, the people, and the country."
The statement from the politician, recognized as the winner of the July 2024 elections by the Carter Center, seems to respond to those of Marco Rubio, who on the same Sunday questioned the strength of the Venezuelan opposition.
Rubio said on the NBC program Meet the Press that the opposition leader María Corina Machado “is fantastic” but is outside of Venezuela.
"María Corina Machado is fantastic, and she is someone I have known for a long time, just like the entire movement, but we are dealing with the immediate reality."
"The immediate reality is that, unfortunately and sadly, the vast majority of the opposition is no longer present in Venezuela. We have short-term issues that must be addressed immediately," he added, referring to a possible opposition-led transition.
Yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump questioned the ability of opposition leader María Corina Machado to govern Venezuela.
"He does not have the [sufficient] support within the country, he does not have respect within the country," said the Republican during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago this Saturday, where he explained the details of the operation that extracted Nicolás Maduro from Caracas.
She also stated that she has not been contacted since the attack.
Machado, for his part, issued a statement directed to the people of Venezuela, in which he assured that "the time for freedom has come" and called on citizens to remain organized and active in the process of democratic transition.
In the text dated January 3, 2026, Machado stated that Nicolás Maduro is facing international justice "for the atrocious crimes committed against Venezuelans and against citizens of many other nations," and emphasized that, in light of his refusal to accept a negotiated solution, the United States government has fulfilled its promise to uphold the law.
The opposition figure declared that “the time has come for Popular Sovereignty and National Sovereignty to reign in our country,” and called for the release of political prisoners, the restoration of order, and the construction of “an exceptional country.”
Machado stated that "we have fought for years, we have given it our all, and it has been worth it," and asserted that this is the moment for the citizens "who risked everything for democracy on July 28." In this regard, he recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate president of Venezuela, who — according to the statement — must assume his constitutional mandate and be recognized as Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces.
However, at the press conference on Saturday, the U.S. President disavowed the Venezuelan opposition and revealed that the U.S. strategy involves negotiating with chavismo.
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