Opposition candidate Edmundo González has vowed to “continue to fight” for democracy after being granted asylum in Spain. González, 75, left Venezuela on Saturday after weeks of hiding at the Spanish embassy in Caracas. His departure comes amid a contentious election in which President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory—a result that González and much of the international community have disputed.
González arrived at Madrid’s Torrejón de Ardoz military air base on Saturday with his wife, where they were greeted by Spanish officials. In an audio message distributed by his press team, González expressed his determination to persist in his efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela. “I am confident that soon we will continue the fight to achieve freedom and the recovery of democracy in Venezuela,” he said.
His exit from Venezuela was fraught with tension. An arrest warrant had been issued against González by Venezuelan authorities, accusing him of conspiracy and forging documents among other charges, which his supporters have dismissed as politically motivated. González described his departure as being surrounded by “episodes of pressure, coercion, and threats that I wouldn’t be allowed to leave,” highlighting the perilous environment for opposition figures in the country.
Maria Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader in Venezuela, took to social media to underscore the dangers faced by González. She described his decision to leave Venezuela as necessary due to a “brutal wave of repression” that ensued after the elections. Machado herself had been a key opposition figure expected to challenge Maduro, but was ultimately barred from running in what many see as an act of political maneuvering by pro-Maduro institutions.
The Venezuelan opposition claims that they possess evidence indicating that González won the election by a significant margin, presenting detailed voting tallies online that suggest he convincingly beat Maduro. However, the Maduro administration has not released comprehensive voting data to substantiate their claimed victory, prompting widespread skepticism and condemnation from international observers.
In response to González’s departure, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on Sunday, condemning the actions of the Maduro government. “González’s departure from Venezuela is the direct result of the anti-democratic measures that Nicolás Maduro has unleashed on the Venezuelan people, including Edmundo González Urrutia and other opposition leaders, since the election,” Blinken said. He stressed that the will of the people could not be disregarded and expressed continued support for González’s call for liberty and democracy in Venezuela.
Echoing this sentiment, Josep Borrell, Vice-President of the European Commission, lamented the state of democracy in Venezuela. “Today is a sad day for democracy in Venezuela,” he said. Borrell urged the Venezuelan government to cease its oppression of opposition leaders and release all political prisoners, underscoring the need for a fair political process.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, speaking at a socialist party meeting, praised González as “a hero who Spain will not abandon.” Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares confirmed that González would be granted asylum, reiterating Spain’s commitment to the political rights of all Venezuelans.
González’s asylum comes as tensions continue to escalate in Venezuela. Security forces have surrounded the Argentine embassy in Caracas, where six opposition figures are reportedly sheltering. Venezuelan authorities allege that terrorist acts are being plotted inside the embassy—a claim that opposition supporters view as another tactic of intimidation.
As González settles into exile in Spain, his promise to continue the struggle for democracy resonates with the Venezuelan opposition and international supporters alike, marking a critical juncture in the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.
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