• Venezuela’s opposition leader leaves country for Spain
• González had been in hiding after the opposition challenged the results of July’s presidential election
• Spanish media reported that González will be granted political asylum in Spain

Venezuela’s opposition leader leaves country for Spain

The Venezuelan government has announced that opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González has left the country and is seeking asylum in Spain.

González had been in hiding after the opposition challenged the results of July’s presidential election. The National Electoral Council (CNE), controlled by the government, declared Nicolás Maduro the winner. 

Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez said González had sought refuge at the Spanish embassy in Caracas and requested political asylum from the Spanish government.

Rodríguez added that Caracas had allowed him safe passage and he has now left the country. 

Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, confirmed that González left Venezuela on a Spanish Air Force plane at his own request. He also stated that Spain is committed to protecting the political rights of Venezuelans. Spanish media reported that González will be granted political asylum in Spain.

A lawyer for González confirmed to AFP that he had indeed left for Spain but did not provide further details.