Venezuelan Opposition Leader Edmundo González Flees to Spain for Asylum Amid Maduro's Arrest Warrant

Sep 8, 2024, 04:01 AM

A Venezuelan judge has issued an arrest warrant for opposition candidate Edmundo González, who is recognized by the United States and other countries as the rightful winner of the July 28 presidential election against incumbent President Nicolás Maduro. The arrest warrant accuses González of forgery of legal documents, sabotage, conspiracy, and usurpation of powers. The warrant, requested by the Public Prosecutor’s Office specialized in terrorist crimes, has been widely condemned by the United States, European Union, and nine Latin American countries. In response to what he calls political persecution, González has fled Venezuela and sought political asylum in Spain. The Spanish government confirmed that González is en route to Madrid aboard a Spanish Air Force plane. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed that González had been seeking asylum in the Spanish embassy. This development marks a significant escalation in the political crisis in Venezuela, as Maduro's government continues to crack down on opposition figures following the disputed election.