The Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González has arrived in Spain after fleeing his country. A Spanish Air Force plane carrying González landed at Torrejon airbase in Madrid, where he will be granted political asylum.
González had been in hiding in Venezuela following the July presidential election, which saw incumbent Nicolás Maduro win a third term. A warrant for González’s arrest was issued after the opposition contested the election results. María Corina Machado, the leader of the opposition, stated that González fled to protect his freedom, integrity, and life, accusing Maduro’s administration of launching a “brutal wave of repression.”
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Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab confirmed that the Venezuelan government had agreed with Madrid on safe passage for González. However, Spain’s foreign ministry noted that there had been no formal negotiations with Venezuela regarding his departure.
Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, emphasized that Madrid would grant asylum to González as it remains “committed to the political rights” of Venezuelans. González, 75, had been hiding since July 30, fearing arrest after Venezuelan authorities accused him of serious crimes, including conspiracy and document forgery.
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Before March, González was not a prominent figure, but after being registered as a candidate by the main opposition coalition, he was chosen as an alternative to María Corina Machado, who was barred from running. Despite claims from the opposition that González won the election, Venezuela’s election body has not released voting tallies, and international scrutiny has intensified.
The U.S., EU, and most foreign governments have not recognized Maduro’s victory without detailed voting data. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, called González’s flight “a sad day for democracy in Venezuela” and stressed that no political leader should be forced into asylum.
Spain has not recognized Maduro’s victory and has called for dialogue and negotiations to resolve the political crisis. Meanwhile, security forces in Caracas have surrounded the Argentine embassy, where six opposition figures are sheltering, alleging that terrorist activities are being planned inside.
