The IDEA Group, formed by former presidents of Latin America, Spain and former Ibero-American heads of government, recognized through an official statement this Monday (17) the opposition leaders Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado as the legitimate president and vice-president of Venezuela. The document was signed by more than 30 former government officials during an event held in Miami.
In the document, called the “Miami Declaration”, the former representatives state that González Urrutia received 67.1% of the valid votes in the elections on July 28 last year, according to results verified by the Carter Center and reviewed based on 25,575 authentic minutes, today deposited at the Central Bank of Panama. The text adds that María Corina Machado was recognized as “leader of the democratic transition and vice-president” of Venezuela, with a mandate to “lead the re-establishment” of democracy.
According to political leaders, Venezuela is experiencing a “serious rupture of the constitutional order” caused by a regime classified as illegitimate. The declaration states that the country is facing a “political, institutional, social and humanitarian” crisis, marked by systematic human rights violations under the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro.
The IDEA Group – which includes names such as Iván Duque, Mauricio Macri, Mariano Rajoy, Julio María Sanguinetti and Álvaro Uribe – called on hemispheric governments and multilateral organizations to formally recognize González and Corina Machado and support a peaceful transition in Venezuela.
The declaration also demands the release of all political prisoners and an end to state repression. According to the text, the Maduro regime practices “state terrorism” and commits crimes against humanity that need to be stopped.
Edmundo González is in exile in Spain, while María Corina Machado – winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize – is hiding inside Venezuela.
