Venezuelan judge orders the arrest of former opposition candidate Edmundo González

SUMMARY

A Venezuelan judge has issued an arrest warrant for Edmundo González, the former opposition presidential candidate, amid a controversial election investigation. The warrant, part of a criminal probe into the summer election that the U.S. claims González won, intensifies the political tension in Venezuela. Despite the U.S. asserting “overwhelming evidence” of González's victory, President Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner, sparking protests and international backlash over the election's legitimacy. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado condemned the warrant, stating it only strengthens their movement’s resolve. Both González and Machado have gone into hiding following the contested election. This development coincides with the U.S. Justice Department's seizure of a plane allegedly used by Maduro, citing sanctions violations. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had earlier recognized González as the legitimate winner, supporting the opposition's claims of election fraud.