Edmundo Gonzalez, the opposition presidential candidate in Venezuela who was defeated by Nicolas Maduro amid accusations of fraud and fraud, has left the country. According to Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, Gonzalez, against whom the Venezuelan regime had issued an arrest warrant in recent days, has been welcomed in Madrid. “Edmundo Gonzalez took off from Caracas to Spain on a Spanish Air Force plane. The Spanish government provided the diplomatic and material means necessary for his transfer, which was carried out at his request,” read a note from the ministry, which reiterated the Madrid government’s commitment “to the political rights and physical integrity of all” Venezuelan citizens, with particular attention to political leaders.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed the departure of the 75-year-old Gonzalez, claiming that “he voluntarily requested asylum at the Spanish embassy in Caracas a few days ago.” And the government, she said, has decided to grant him safe conduct. Maduro had claimed victory for a third term in the elections of July 28, the outcome of which was not recognized by the United States, the EU and some Latin American countries.
Gonzalez left Venezuela and is now in exile in Spain because “his life was in danger”, but the regime’s coup “will not succeed” and on January 10th “he will be sworn in as the legitimate president”. The words in a post on X by the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Maria Corina Machado, recalling how “since our historic victory on July 28th, the regime has unleashed a brutal wave of repression against all citizens, classified as state terrorism”. Gonzalez’s life “was in danger, and the increasing threats, summonses, arrest warrants and even attempts at blackmail and coercion to which he has been subjected demonstrate that the regime has no scruples or limits in its obsession with silencing him and trying to subdue him”, accuses Machado again, according to whom “in the face of this brutal reality, it is necessary to preserve his freedom, his integrity and his life”. But, the opposition leader assures, “their attempted coup against popular sovereignty will not materialize: on January 10, President-elect Edmundo González will be sworn in as the constitutional president of Venezuela and commander in chief of the national armed forces.” “Edmundo will fight from outside alongside our diaspora and I will continue to do so here, alongside you,” Machado concludes. “Venezuelans, this fight will last until the end and victory is ours.”
#Venezuela #antiMaduro #opposition #leader #forced #exile #Spain #Tempo
2024-09-08 23:39:27
Why did Edmundo Gonzalez flee to Spain and what led to the issuance of an arrest warrant against him?
Table of Contents
Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Edmundo Gonzalez Flees to Spain Amid Arrest Warrant
In a dramatic turn of events, Edmundo Gonzalez, the Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate, has fled to Spain after an arrest warrant was issued against him by the Venezuelan regime. Gonzalez, who was defeated by Nicolas Maduro in the recent presidential elections amidst accusations of fraud, left Venezuela due to fears for his life.
According to Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, Gonzalez was welcomed in Madrid after being granted asylum at the Spanish embassy in Caracas a few days ago [[1]]. The Spanish government provided the necessary diplomatic and material means for his transfer, which was carried out at his request.
Gonzalez’s departure comes after the Venezuelan regime issued an arrest warrant against him, citing alleged crimes related to his presidential campaign [[2]]. The 75-year-old candidate had been facing increasing threats, summonses, and attempts at blackmail and coercion, which Machado, the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, described as “state terrorism” [[3]].
In a post on X, Machado said that Gonzalez’s life was in danger and that the regime’s coup ”will not succeed” [[3]]. She assured that on January 10, Gonzalez will be sworn in as the legitimate president of Venezuela and commander-in-chief of the national armed forces. Machado concluded, “Venezuelans, this fight will last until the end and victory is ours.”
The Venezuelan government, led by President Maduro, had claimed victory in the July 28 elections, an outcome not recognized by the United States, the EU, and some Latin American countries.
Gonzalez’s exile in Spain marks a new chapter in the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela, where the opposition is fighting for democracy and human rights against the authoritarian regime.
References:
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Edmundo Gonzalez Flees to Spain Amid Political Crisis
In a dramatic turn of events, Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez has fled to Spain, seeking asylum after the country’s disputed presidential election on July 28. According to reports, Gonzalez, 75, had been facing an arrest warrant issued by the Venezuelan regime, led by President Nicolas Maduro, who claimed victory in the election despite allegations of fraud and irregularities [[1]].
Gonzalez, who contested the election results, had been seeking refuge in the Spanish embassy in Caracas before being transferred to Madrid on a Spanish Air Force plane, with the Spanish government providing diplomatic and material support for his transfer [[2]]. The move comes as Venezuela grapples with a deepening political crisis, with the United States, European Union, and several Latin American countries refusing to recognize Maduro’s re-election [[3]].
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed Gonzalez’s departure, stating that he had voluntarily requested asylum at the Spanish embassy in Caracas a few days prior. The Venezuelan government has granted him safe conduct, allowing him to leave the country without fear of persecution [[1]].
Gonzalez’s decision to flee Venezuela follows a wave of repression unleashed by the regime against opposition leaders and activists, with many facing arrests, harassment, and intimidation. The opposition has vowed to continue fighting for democracy and human rights, with Maria Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader, stating that Gonzalez’s life was in danger and that he would be sworn in as the legitimate president on January 10th [[1]].
The international community has been watching the Venezuelan crisis unfold with concern, with many calling for free and fair elections and an end to the political repression. The European Union has been particularly vocal in its criticism of the Maduro regime, with Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, reaffirming the country’s commitment to the political rights and physical integrity of all Venezuelan citizens, particularly political leaders [[2]].
As the situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate, Gonzalez’s exile in Spain has sparked hope among the opposition that the international community will continue to pressure the Maduro regime to respect democratic norms and human rights. With the Venezuelan people continuing to face economic hardship, political repression, and human rights abuses, the world watches with bated breath as the country’s future hangs in the balance.
References:
<a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2024/09/08/venezuela-le-candidat-de-l-opposition-a-quitte-le-pays-pour-trouver-asile-en-espagne63070083210.html”>[1]
<a href="https://www.rfi.fr/fr/am%C3%A9riques/20240908-venezuela-le-candidat-de-l-opposition-edmundo-gonzalez-urrutia-a
