Edmundo González hopes that the release of prisoners marks a new direction in Venezuela

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, exiled in Spain, trusts that the release of political prisoners detained by the protests against the official result of the Venezuelan presidential elections on July 28 “set the new course” in his country.

In statements to EFE before participating in a forum organized by the Málaga Business Circle, González considered this Monday that “there are many more” prisoners than those verified by the NGO Foro Penal, which had registered the release of 131 people until Sunday. .

“Those who were released should never have been detained,” indicated who was a candidate for the presidency of the government of the Caribbean country for the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), the main anti-Chavista group, in the Venezuelan elections.

González Urrutia referred to the “unpleasant” situation that families have suffered “without their loved ones,” and added that They have “statements” that some of them “were subjected to cruel treatment.”

On Saturday, the Attorney General of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab, assured that 225 measures for the release of detainees were “granted and executed” after protests against the official result of the elections, which granted victory to Nicolás Maduro for a new mandate.

The opposition, on the contrary, denounced a “massive fraud” and assured that the winner was González Urrutia.

“Freedom is something that, once you take it, you want it forever,” said the opponent, who hoped that “that is what prevails and that the (Venezuelan) government will not take actions like this again,” in reference to those arrested.

He stressed that “they were detained without reason” for having participated in a “public protest”, and he trusted that “this liberation will mark the new course so that January 10 will be the date of reunion for all Venezuelans,” alluding to the inauguration day of the president of Venezuela for the next six years.

González, who plans to return to his country then, hopes that the “enthusiasm” he perceives “is maintained and can arrive to assume the Government.”

During the forum, the Venezuelan opposition leader expressed his gratitude for the reception he has received during his stay in Spain, where he arrived in September to request political asylum, after the justice system ordered his arrest.

The Trump effect in Venezuela

Regarding the impact that Republican Donald Trump’s recent victory in the United States may have in Venezuela, González Urrutia said that we must “wait” for January, when he takes office, which will be “when the signs are going to materialize.”

«So far, what we have seen is that the Government appointments are hard-line. “Let’s see how that is put into practice,” he commented on the appointments announced by Trump.

“The government of Venezuela must not be very happy,” added the opponent.

Economic recovery

In his speech, Edmundo González referred to the Venezuelan economic crisis as one of the “deepest” in recent history.

It detailed “a GDP contraction exceeding 70 percent,” more than two-thirds of industrial companies have closed “due to a hostile economic environment,” and there has been a “massive exodus of talent and workforce” of more than 8 millions of people, he assured.

But he was convinced of the possibilities of recovery: “With the right policies, Venezuela can return to what it was during the second half of the 20th century.”