Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González takes up political asylum in Spain
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Loading... - Freya Hahn
- 10 Sep 2024
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Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González has sought political asylum in Spain following his escape from Venezuela. After the controversial presidential election in July, which resulted in a third term for Nicolás Maduro, González faced an arrest warrant for challenging the results. He had been in hiding before making his way to the Spanish Embassy in Caracas, where the Venezuelan government eventually allowed him to leave the country safely.
Upon his arrival at Torrejón Air Base near Madrid via a Spanish Air Force plane, Spain's Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, confirmed that González would be granted asylum. The decision underscores Spain’s commitment to protecting the political rights of Venezuelans amidst the ongoing crisis.
González, who was relatively unknown until March, became the opposition’s candidate after María Corina Machado, who had won the opposition primaries with 93% of the vote, was barred from running by the government. Despite fears of disqualification, González's candidacy was kept low-profile, with Machado campaigning on his behalf.
The opposition alleges that González actually won the election by a significant margin, posting detailed voting results online. However, the US, the EU, and other regional powers have withheld recognition of Maduro’s victory, demanding the release of full voting data. The situation has led to further tensions, including the Venezuelan security forces surrounding the Argentine embassy in Caracas, where several opposition figures have sought refuge. The Venezuelan government claims that terrorist activities are being planned within the embassy.
