Venezuelan Opposition Leader Arrives In Spain To Seek Light, EU Diplomat: Sad Day For Democracy

Opponent leader Venezuelabero Gonzalez. (Twitter/@EdmundUGu)

JAKARTA - Venezuela's presidential candidate from opposition groupfo Gonzalez arrived in Spain, after he flew from his country on Sunday seeking asylum, amid a political and diplomatic crisis over the results of the disputed July general election.

Gonzalez arrived at Military Base Torrejon de Ardoz with his wife in Madrid Province, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

In footage obtained by Reuters after Gonzalez arrived in Spain, he said that his departure from Caracas "was surrounded by pressure, coercion and threats."

"I believe we will soon continue the struggle for freedom and the return of democracy in Venezuela," Gonzalez said, as reported September 9.

Gonzalez's move to Spain marked another surprising change in the fate of the former diplomat who left retirement and took over candidacy in March, initially as a substitute after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and then another substitute was unable to run.

Machado confirmed on X that Gonzalez is now in Spain, adding that he fled to protect his "freedom, integrity and life".

"The increasing threats, calls, arrest warrants, and even attempts at extortion and coercion suggest that the regime has no doubts or limits in its obsession to silence it and try to destroy it," he wrote.

The Spanish Air Force plane carrying Edmundo González to Spain landed at the Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base (Madrid).

🔗https://t.co/pbdTEkfFiF pic.twitter.com/OdCuNVLLGM

— Spain MFA (@SpainMFA) September 8, 2024

The Spanish Air Force planned carryono Gonz Marijuana to Spain landed at the Torrejmen de Ardoz Air Base (Madrid).

🔗https://t.co/pbdTEkfFiF pic.twitter.com/OdCuNVLLGM

Gonzalez will continue to fight for opposition from Spain, while he will continue to do so in Venezuela, Machado said, and vowed he would be sworn in on January 10, 2025, when the next presidential term begins.

The 75-year-old's departure - seen by the US, European Union, and other powers in the region as the winner of the disputed vote - came a week after Venezuelan authorities issued an arrest warrant, accusing him of conspiracy and other crimes.

"Today is a sad day for democracy in Venezuela," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

"In democracy, no political leader should be forced to seek asylum in other countries," he continued.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Instagram authorities had given Gonzalez a safe path to restoring "political peace".

Meanwhile, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there was no official discussion with the Venezuelan government regarding Gonzalez's exit.

Gonzalez " remains the best hope for democracy," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a post on message platform X.

"We must not allow Maduro and his representatives to stick to power with violence," he said.

Separately, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Spanish TV he had told Gonzalez "any person whose physical integrity or fundamental rights may be threatened will be welcomed in Spain and its embassy."

He added that his move to Spain had been planned for days and the foreign ministry said Gonzalez's asylum process would now begin.

Gonzalez is known to have sought refuge in the Netherlands and then the Spanish embassy in Venezuela after the election, Dutch and Venezuelan officials said.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in a letter to his parliament on Sunday Gonzalez had immediately requested protection at the Dutch embassy the day after the election.

"In early September,fo Gonzalez indicated he wanted to leave and continue his struggle from Spain", Veldkamp added.

Spanish officials, including former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who was linked to diplomatic relations in South American countries in the past, were involved in a week-long negotiations with Venezuelan authorities for Gonzalez to leave the country, sources familiar with the talks told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

President Maduro's permission for Gonzalez's departure despite a warrant for his arrest could soften some of the recent harsh international criticisms against him.

Machado, however, is still the subject of the investigation and has largely been exiled at unknown locations since the vote, only occasionally appearing to lead the protests.

Gonzalez's departure comes less than 24 hours after security forces surrounded the former Argentine embassy in Caracas, now protected by Brazil, where six opposition staff have taken refuge since a warrant was issued for them in March.

Attorney General Tarek Saab, who met Gonzalez's attorney this week and who has been one of the loudest opposition whistleblowers, told a news conference on Sunday that the government was aware of Gonzalez's "right moment" into the Spanish embassy and agreed to give him a safe way to leave the country.

Earlier, Venezuela's opposition said elections on July 28 resulted in a brilliant victory for Gonzalez, publishing an online vote count that they said showed he won.

Meanwhile, the incumbent President Nicolas Maduro has dismissed all of these statements and said there are right-wing plans to sabotage his government.