Venezuelan opposition leader Gonzalez seeks asylum in Spain – FBC News

Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez flew to Spain on Sunday to seek asylum, Madrid said, hours after leaving his country amid a political and diplomatic crisis over the disputed July election.

Gonzalez, who has challenged President Nicolás Maduro's declaration of victory, arrived with his wife at the Torrejón de Ardoz military base, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The exit of the 75-year-old – seen by the US, EU and other powers in the region as the winner of the vote – came a week after Venezuelan authorities issued an arrest warrant for him, accusing him of conspiracy and other crimes.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Instagram that authorities had granted Gonzalez safe passage to restore “political peace.” Spain's Foreign Ministry said there had been no official talks with the Venezuelan government about Gonzalez's departure.

The opposition in Venezuela said the July 28 elections had resulted in a landslide victory for González and published vote counts online that were supposed to prove his victory.

Maduro has denied all such allegations and said there was a right-wing plot to sabotage his government.

Gonzalez's move to Spain marked another abrupt turning point in the fortunes of the former diplomat, who returned from retirement and took over the candidacy in March, initially as a placeholder after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and later another successor were unable to run.

Machado confirmed to X that Gonzalez is now in Spain, adding that he fled to protect his “freedom, his integrity and his life.”

Gonzalez will continue to fight for the opposition in Spain, while it will continue to do so in Venezuela, Machado said, vowing that he will be sworn in on January 10, 2025, when the next presidential term begins.