Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez flew to Spain on Sunday to hunt asylum, Madrid stated, hours after leaving his nation amid a political and diplomatic disaster over disputed July elections.
Gonzalez, who has defied President Nicolas Maduro’s declaration of victory, arrived on the Torrejon de Ardoz army base together with his spouse, Spain’s overseas ministry stated in an announcement.
The departure of the 75-year-old man – thought of by the US, the EU and different powers within the area because the winner of the vote – got here every week after Venezuelan authorities issued an arrest warrant in opposition to himaccusing him of conspiracy and different crimes.
“In the present day is a tragic day for democracy in Venezuela,” EU overseas coverage chief Josep Borrell stated in an announcement. “In a democracy, no political chief needs to be compelled to hunt asylum overseas.”
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez stated on Instagram that authorities had given Gonzalez a protected passage in an try to revive “political peace.” Spain’s overseas ministry stated there had been no official talks with the Venezuelan authorities about Gonzalez’s departure.
Venezuela’s opposition says the July 28 election resulted in a convincing victory for Gonzalez and has posted vote tallies on-line that they are saying present he received.
Maduro has rejected all such claims and says there was a right-wing plot to sabotage his authorities.
Gonzalez’s transfer to Spain marked one other dramatic turnaround in fortunes for the previous diplomat who got here out of retirement and took up the candidacy in March, initially instead after opposition chief Maria Corina Machado after which one other alternative failed to face.
Machado confirmed in X that González was now in Spain and added that he had fled to guard his “freedom, his integrity and his life.”
“The rising threats, summons, arrest warrants and even makes an attempt at blackmail and coercion to which he has been subjected exhibit that the regime has no scruples and no limits in its obsession with silencing him and making an attempt to interrupt him,” he wrote.
Gonzalez will proceed to struggle for the opposition from Spain, whereas persevering with to take action inside Venezuela, Machado stated, vowing to be sworn in on January 10, 2025, when the subsequent presidential time period begins.
EMBASSIES, CONVERSATIONS
Spanish International Minister Jose Manuel Albares instructed Spanish tv that he had instructed Gonzalez that “anybody whose bodily integrity or elementary rights may very well be endangered will probably be welcomed in Spain and its embassy.”
He added that his switch to Spain had been deliberate for days and the International Ministry stated the asylum course of for Gonzalez would now start.
Gonzalez had sought refuge within the Dutch and Spanish embassies in Venezuela after the election, Dutch and Venezuelan officers stated.
Dutch International Minister Caspar Veldkamp stated in a letter to parliament on Sunday that Gonzalez had urgently requested refuge within the Dutch embassy the day after the election.
“Initially of September, Edmundo Gonzalez indicated that… he wished to depart and proceed his struggle from Spain,” Veldkamp added.
Spanish officers, together with former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who has had diplomatic ties with the South American nation previously, have been concerned in every week of negotiations with Venezuelan authorities to get Gonzalez to depart the nation, a supply with data of the talks instructed Reuters, talking on situation of anonymity.
OPPOSITION PUSHES FOR MORE PROTESTS
The truth that Maduro allowed Gonzalez to depart regardless of the arrest warrant he confronted might soften a few of the current harsh worldwide criticism of him.
Machado, nevertheless, stays the topic of an investigation and has been held in an undisclosed location for the reason that vote, rising solely sometimes to steer rallies. Gonzalez’s departure got here lower than 24 hours after safety forces surrounded Argentina’s former embassy in Caracas, which is now protected by Brazil, the place six opposition staffers have taken refuge since arrest warrants have been issued in opposition to them in March.
Legal professional Normal Tarek Saab, who met with Gonzalez’s lawyer this week and has been one of many opposition’s most strident accusers, is scheduled to carry a information convention later Sunday.
The opposition is pushing for extra road protests and worldwide strain to have its victory acknowledged, however up to now these techniques have been fruitless: Army leaders have lined up behind Maduro and there was no escalation of sanctions or different worldwide motion for the reason that vote amid declining attendance at anti-government demonstrations.
