Mon Jan 06 17:28:45 UTC 2025: ## Venezuelan Opposition Leader Urges Military Support, Plans Meeting with Biden Amidst Impasse

**Washington, D.C. – January 6, 2025** – Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, recognized as president-elect by several countries including the U.S. and Italy, is pressing for military support as he continues his international campaign to challenge President Nicolas Maduro’s authority. Gonzalez Urrutia, who fled Venezuela after an arrest warrant was issued, is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden on Monday, January 7th, according to a U.S. source. The meeting is not yet publicly confirmed by the White House.

In a video message on Sunday, Gonzalez Urrutia appealed directly to the Venezuelan military, urging them to acknowledge him as commander-in-chief when he is set to be sworn in on January 10th. He cited the alleged widespread desire for change among the Venezuelan people, claiming his victory in the July 28th election based on opposition-released polling data, despite Maduro’s official win declaration.

Meanwhile, prominent opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, who was barred from the election, has called for mass protests on January 9th to pressure Maduro. Machado, currently in hiding, has urged Venezuelans both domestically and internationally to participate in what she described as a historic moment of defiance.

The situation follows post-election unrest in Venezuela, with clashes between protesters and authorities resulting in at least 28 deaths and over 2,000 arrests. The Venezuelan electoral authorities have yet to release detailed results from the July 28th vote. The upcoming inauguration and potential meeting between Gonzalez Urrutia and President Biden are expected to significantly shape the ongoing political crisis. The impact of an impending winter storm on the planned meeting remains uncertain.

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