CARASCAS, Venezuela: Former Venezuelan presidential opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, 75, has left Venezuela for Spain following the country’s highly contested July 28 election. Gonzalez, who ran against President Nicolas Maduro, sought refuge in the Spanish embassy in Caracas before departing on a Spanish Air Force plane, according to both Venezuelan and Spanish officials.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed Gonzalez’s departure on social media, while Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced that Madrid responded to Gonzalez’s request for asylum. Gonzalez’s exit follows growing international criticism of Venezuela’s election, which opposition groups claim resulted in a victory for him, although the Venezuelan government and its top court assert that Maduro won re-election for a third term.
In the aftermath of the election, prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez, accusing him of various charges, including conspiracy and falsifying public documents, linked to the publication of vote tallies online. Opposition leaders maintain that these tallies show Gonzalez’s electoral victory.
The political tensions have also affected Venezuela’s diplomatic relations. On Saturday, the Venezuelan government revoked Brazil’s authority to represent Argentine interests in Venezuela, impacting the Argentine embassy where six opposition figures are currently sheltered. This action escalated diplomatic tensions between Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina, with both countries urging Maduro to respect the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry has condemned Venezuela’s actions, warning of potential consequences if asylum seekers at the embassy were harmed. Meanwhile, Brazil remains committed to protecting Argentine interests until an alternative arrangement is made. These events reflect the increasingly fraught political and diplomatic landscape in Venezuela following the disputed election.
