'Maduro rival vows 'government for all' if he wins Venezuela vote

The soft-spoken septuagenarian who could be on the brink of leading Venezuela into a new political era has promised to build a country of prosperity, democracy and peace if he is elected president, and vowed to govern for all citizens - including supporters of his authoritarian rival, Nicolás Maduro.

- Tom Phillips Camille Rodriguez Montilla

Edmundo González Urrutia, a retired diplomat, is leading the polls ahead of the country's 28 July presidential election despite never having sought elected office and until recently being unknown to voters.

Speaking at his home overlooking the capital, Caracas, the 74-yearold admitted his transformation from retired ambassador to possible leader of the country with the world's largest proven oil reserves had come as a surprise.

"The truth is, I had absolutely no plans to be a presidential candidate ... much less to be president," said González, who retired after serving as Venezuela's ambassador to Buenos Aires between 1998 and 2002.

That changed suddenly in April when González agreed to be the stand-in presidential candidate for the Venezuelan opposition after its standard-bearer, María Corina Machado, and her stopgap were both prevented from running by authorities.

With the support of Machado, a charismatic and outspoken former congresswoman who has spent years building a reputation as a fierce critic of Maduro's Socialist party, González is now topping the polls.