The Venezuelan government has confirmed that opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González has sought asylum in Spain after leaving the country. This move comes amid rising tensions following the disputed July presidential election results, where the government-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Nicolás Maduro the winner.
Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez announced on social media that González had “voluntarily” requested refuge at the Spanish embassy in Caracas days prior to his departure, ultimately seeking political asylum from the Spanish government. Caracas granted him safe passage, leading to his exit from Venezuela.
Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that González left the country at his own request, utilizing a Spanish Air Force plane. The minister reiterated Spain’s commitment to the political rights of all Venezuelans.
A legal representative confirmed González’s departure for Spain, although details surrounding his exit remain sparse. Meanwhile, Venezuelan security forces have intensified their presence around the Argentine embassy in Caracas, where six political opponents of President Maduro are currently taking refuge. The Venezuelan foreign ministry has alleged that there are plans for terrorist acts being orchestrated from within the embassy.
Venezuela has been engulfed in a political crisis since Maduro’s declared victory in the July election. The opposition claims to possess evidence showing González won by a significant margin, releasing detailed voting tallies that suggest a convincing defeat for Maduro. Several nations, including the United States and multiple Latin American countries, have refused to recognize Maduro’s victory without transparent voting data from Caracas.
In the wake of the election, the Maduro government has reportedly detained over 2,400 individuals, fostering what the United Nations describes as “a climate of fear.”
González had been in hiding since July 30 due to fears of arrest, following remarks from government officials calling for his imprisonment. The government has accused him of serious crimes, including conspiracy and forgery, aligning closely with the Maduro administration’s narrative.
At the age of 75, González rose to prominence only recently when he was registered as the main opposition coalition’s presidential candidate in March. This decision came after the original choice, leading opposition figure María Corina Machado, was barred from public office by government authorities, prompting the opposition to turn to González as an alternative.
