Former Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo González has fled to Spain, seeking asylum after a turbulent period in his home country.
González, a key figure in the opposition’s efforts to challenge two decades of single-party rule, was granted asylum by Spain’s centre-left government and arrived at a military airport near Madrid on Sunday.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed his departure, stating that the move was intended to restore “the country’s political peace and tranquillity.”
González, 75, was accompanied by his wife and Spanish officials. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares confirmed that González had requested and received political asylum.
Speaking from Oman while on a state visit to China with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Albares emphasised Spain’s commitment to supporting Venezuelans’ political rights. González had stayed at the Spanish embassy in Caracas before his departure.
The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, expressed disappointment, calling it “a sad day for democracy in Venezuela.” Borrell reiterated EU support for Venezuelans’ democratic aspirations. Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp also confirmed that the Netherlands had provided refuge to González before his move to Spain.
González’s exit comes after he was considered the legitimate winner of July’s presidential election, a result not recognised by most Western governments, including Spain.
Despite President Nicolás Maduro being declared the winner, many believe González won by a significant margin, based on unofficial tally sheets collected by opposition volunteers. The National Electoral Council, controlled by Maduro, did not release official results, citing an alleged cyberattack.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab sought González’s errand. According to 2022 statistics, about 212,000 Venezuelans reside in the country following his failure to appear for questioning in a criminal investigation into alleged electoral sabotage. Saab dismissed the opposition’s vote records as forgeries aimed at undermining the electoral council.
The United Nations and the Carter Center, which observed the election, criticised the results’ credibility but noted that the voting records shared by the opposition appeared genuine. Exiled opposition figure Franco Casella indicated that González would continue campaigning against Maduro’s regime from abroad and urged for unity among opposition supporters.
Spain has become a prominent destination for Venezuelans fleeing the regime, including figures like Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma.
According to 2022 statistics, approximately 44,000 Venezuelans immigrated to Spain in the first half of this year, and about 212,000 Venezuelans reside there.
