- González granted asylum in Spain.
- Landed in Madrid with wife.
- US, EU, and Spain criticize Maduro’s regime.
Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González has pledged to “continue to fight” for democracy in Venezuela following his recent asylum grant in Spain. González, who had been in hiding for weeks, arrived at Madrid’s Torrejón military air base with his wife around 16:00 local time on Sunday (14:00 GMT).
The 75-year-old’s departure comes after the contentious July 28 elections, which saw President Nicolás Maduro declared the winner—a result disputed by González and many in the international community. In a statement released by his press team, González expressed confidence that the struggle for freedom and democratic recovery in Venezuela would persist.
Before leaving Venezuela, González faced an arrest warrant accusing him of conspiracy, document forgery, and other serious crimes. He thanked his supporters for their solidarity and described his departure from Caracas as fraught with pressure, coercion, and threats against his exit.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was expected to challenge Maduro but was barred from running, claimed González’s departure was due to “his life being in danger” amidst a “brutal wave of repression” following the elections. The opposition alleges that González won by a significant margin, supported by detailed voting data posted online. The US, EU, and other foreign governments have rejected Maduro’s claim of victory without transparent voting data.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the anti-democratic actions of Maduro’s regime, affirming support for González’s call to continue the fight for liberty and democratic restoration. European Commission Vice-President Josep Borrell called it a “sad day for democracy in Venezuela,” stressing that no political leader should be forced into asylum. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to González’s cause and political rights for Venezuelans.
González’s exit coincided with Venezuelan security forces surrounding the Argentine embassy in Caracas, where six opposition figures are currently holed up.
