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Edmundo González, a former opposition presidential candidate in Venezuela, has sought asylum in Spain, marking a significant shift in the political landscape for millions who had rallied behind his campaign aimed at ending decades of single-party governance. His unexpected departure was confirmed late Saturday by Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez.
Rodríguez indicated that the government had agreed to facilitate González’s exit from the country, which came shortly after authorities issued an arrest order for him, with the aim of restoring “political peace and tranquility” in Venezuela.
There has been no comment from González or fellow opposition leader María Corina Machado regarding his escape. However, representatives from Spain’s center-left government stated that the decision to leave was entirely González’s, noting he flew out on a plane arranged by the Venezuelan air force.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares confirmed that his government would provide González with political asylum as he had formally requested. Albares shared that after speaking with González while on route to China, the opposition leader expressed gratitude towards the Spanish government and affirmed that he was pleased to be en route to Spain.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had also expressed commitment to González, declaring him “a hero whom Spain will not abandon” in a speech just before the announcement of his departure.
‘A challenging moment for democracy in Venezuela’
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, referred to the occurrence as “a sad day for democracy in Venezuela,” disclosing that the Dutch government had played a role in assisting González’s asylum request.
Borrell emphasized that circumstances of repression and political persecution had forced González to seek asylum, noting his temporary shelter at the Netherlands’ residence in Caracas until early September. He reiterated that González was widely acknowledged as the true winner of the most recent presidential elections, assuring continued EU support for the democratic rights of the Venezuelan populace.
At 75, González was a late substitute candidate, stepping in for Machado, who had been barred from competing. Although he was not well-known to the general public prior to his campaign, he rapidly galvanized support among citizens longing for change in the face of ongoing economic turmoil.
Although Nicolás Maduro’s government declared him the victor of the July elections, numerous Western nations have withheld recognition of this outcome, demanding transparency in the election results. Additionally, evidence gathered by opposition volunteers from more than two-thirds of electronic voting machines suggests that González secured victory by a substantial margin.
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In responses to the electoral process, the National Electoral Council, dominated by Maduro’s regime, has refrained from providing vote counts, attributing the lack of data to an alleged cyberattack from international opponents. Meanwhile, Attorney General Tarek William Saab has initiated legal actions against González, targeting him for failing to attend court summons linked to accusations of electoral misconduct.
Despite the government’s claims of fabricated voting records from the opposition, independent evaluations from UN representatives and the Carter Center have suggested significant questions surrounding the electoral legitimacy, stating that while the official results lack credibility, the opposition’s published records retain their original security features.
Continued Resistance from Exile
Franco Casella, an exiled opposition figure, affirmed that despite González’s departure, the fight against Maduro’s regime would persist. He characterized González’s exit as not a defeat but rather an opportunity for continued advocacy from abroad. Casella urged supporters to stay united against the government, acknowledging feelings of loss but framing it as a moment to rally together.
The trend of Venezuelans seeking refuge in Spain is on the rise, particularly among opposition leaders, with notable figures like Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma previously taking similar paths. Recent statistics indicate that around 44,000 Venezuelans immigrated to Spain in just the first half of this year, contributing to a significant Venezuelan community that had reached approximately 212,000 individuals in the country by last year.
Source
www.cbc.ca