Venezuela’s opposition leader Edmundo González has fled to Spain following months of political turmoil.
Last week, Venezuela’s Government – currently led by Nicolás Maduro – issued an arrest warrant for González.
The country has faced increasing unrest following the July presidential election, which Maduro’s government insisted he won.
However, opposition candidate González declared victory after an independent vote count.
González landed in Spain’s capital, Madrid, overnight.
Maduro
Maduro, a member of the United Socialist Party (PSUV), became President in 2013.
He has been described as a “dictator” by his political opponents and global leaders including Argentina’s President Javier Milei.
Maduro has been criticised for his economic management of Venezuela. Earlier this year, a UN representative found more than half of Venezuelans couldn’t afford to buy food.
González
González was previously Venezuela’s ambassador to Algeria and Argentina. He’s a member of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), and was not a well-known political figure until he ran against Maduro this year.
He became a presidential candidate after opposition leader María Corina Machado was barred from office over allegations of fraud. Machado worked closely with González on his presidential campaign.
Background
Exit polls from the 28 July election showed voters favoured González.
However, Maduro was announced as President by the National Electoral Council. This body operates under Maduro’s power.
The opposition then released an independent vote count, which it said showed Maduro lost the election by 3.5 million votes.
The disputed outcome was escalated to the country’s Supreme Court, which Maduro also controls.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court validated the election results and said the final vote count was unavailable due to an alleged cyberattack on the election.
European Union officials rejected this decision, saying: “Maduro cannot be recognised as a legitimate winner”.
Chile, Argentina, Spain, and the U.S. have called for election transparency.
Arrest warrant
Last week, Venezuelan officials issued an arrest warrant against González for “serious crimes” including conspiracy and forging documents.
González’s ally Machado accused Maduro of losing “all touch with reality.” She said the arrest warrant “only strengthens” the political movement to recognise González as leader.
In a post to X, the opposition party described Maduro’s leadership as a “regime”. It said the warrant “is against the more than 8 million Venezuelans who voted for him”.
Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek Saab summoned González for an interview following his arrest warrant. He did not appear at this interview.
In a letter explaining his absence, González said the reasons for his summoning were “unfounded” and that his “appearance could only contribute to further intensifying social tension”.
González also reiterated his calls for the Government to verify the independent vote count.
Saab said González’s absence sets a “negative precedent” of being “above the law and above the rest of Venezuelan citizens”.
He also accused González and Machado of being responsible for the deaths of 27 people amid post-election violence.
Saab said the charges of forging public documents and conspiracy against González remain in place. Following this announcement, González fled from Venezuela to Spain and is seeking asylum.
González flees to Spain from Venezuela
In a post to X, González’s party said he has accepted protection from the Spanish Government. It described this as a “strategic” move “to keep him free”. Spain’s Foreign Ministry said the country “welcomes” González.
Machado said she will continue to work with González while he’s in Spain, and that he will be sworn in as President on 10 January 2025.
Saab issued a statement that said the Government is aware González has sought asylum.
