Former Venezuelan diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez has fled to Spain amid threats and coercion from the regime, according to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. The July 28 election results, which the opposition claims showed Gonzalez’s victory, have been dismissed by President Maduro as part of a right-wing plot. Despite facing an arrest warrant, Gonzalez’s departure has been allowed by Maduro, easing some international criticism. Spanish officials, including former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, were involved in negotiations with Venezuela for his exit.
Gonzalez plans to continue fighting for the opposition from Spain, while Machado says she will do so within Venezuela. Analysts see Gonzalez as a vital international interlocutor for the opposition. The asylum process in Spain, which is expected to be favorable, is underway to protect Venezuelan political leaders. The opposition continues to push for recognition of their victory through protests and international pressure, but military support for Maduro remains strong, with no significant international action taken since the election.
By Belen Carreno, Ana Cantero and Corina Pons in Madrid, Vivian Sequera in Caracas, Anthony Deutsch in Amsterdam, and Julia Symes in Bogota – Reuters
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