Venezuela's opposition leader applies for asylum in Spain

The dramatic exit of the 75-year-old – seen as the winner of the election by the United States, the European Union and other powers in the region – came a week after Venezuelan authorities issued an arrest warrant for him, accusing him of conspiracy and other crimes.

Spain welcomes Edmundo González. – Spain MFA (@SpainMFA) Edmundo González took off from Caracas in a Spanish Air Force plane bound for Spain. 🔗 pic.twitter.com/rJW5iCEb1b8 September 2024

“Today is a sad day for democracy in Venezuela,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

“In a democracy, no political leader should be forced to seek asylum in another country.”

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Instagram that authorities had granted Gonzalez safe passage to restore “political peace.”

He left Venezuela after “voluntarily seeking refuge in the Spanish embassy in Caracas a few days ago,” she wrote.

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 conspiracy by conservatives 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 on X that Gonzalez is now in Spain.

She added that it was “necessary for our cause to protect his freedom, his integrity and his life” after the Venezuelan government had committed “increasing threats, summons, arrest warrants and even attempts at extortion and coercion”.

There was no immediate reaction from the authorities to her statement.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry said the asylum procedure against González would now begin. “Given Spain's commitment to the political rights and physical integrity of all Venezuelan men and women, especially political leaders, the outcome will be positive.”

After the election, Gonzalez sought refuge first in the Dutch and then in the Spanish embassy in Venezuela, Dutch and Venezuelan officials said.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in a letter to parliament on Sunday that Gonzalez had urgently requested refuge in the Dutch embassy the day after the election.

“At the beginning of September, Edmundo Gonzalez indicated that he wanted to leave … and continue his fight from Spain,” Veldkamp added.

Spanish officials, including former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, spent a week negotiating with Venezuelan authorities about Gonzalez's departure from the country, a source familiar with the talks told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.