Argentina recognizes Gonzalez: “The popular will must be respected”

Concerns and condemnations

In its August 2 statement, the Argentine Foreign Ministry had stated that it was following “the events in Venezuela with extreme attention and concern.” This followed a previous statement by the head of the ministry, Diana Mondino, who had already recognized González as the “legitimate winner and President-elect.”

The statement also condemns “the filing of criminal charges against the winning presidential candidate and the main opposition leader, as well as the arbitrary detention of senior figures from opposition political parties, journalists and media workers.”

Problems at the Argentine Embassy

Argentina reiterated its request for the “soon restoration” of the electricity supply at the official residence of the Argentine embassy in Caracas. It recalled that it has been “interrupted for more than a week.” Since March, six politicians opposed to the Maduro government have been in the diplomatic headquarters, under the custody of Brazil following the expulsion of Argentine diplomats.

On Tuesday, Argentine government spokesman Manuel Adorni said that Argentina was not “in a position to proclaim any winner” as they were waiting “to have all the necessary elements to be able to do so.” He added that they had to be “very careful” because of the asylum seekers in the embassy.

Proposal for a Latin American Summit

Adorni mentioned the possibility of a Latin American summit on the situation in Venezuela, although it was “neither planned nor ruled out.” Later, the president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, asked his foreign minister to invite his counterparts from the region to a meeting in Panama to “address the issue of Vzla (Venezuela) and try out more actions that support democracy and the popular will” in the country governed by Maduro.