Venezuelan Opposition Presidential Candidate Seeks Asylum in Spain
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate who contested President Nicolas Maduro’s re-election, has fled to Spain for asylum. His lawyer confirmed his departure, stating that the Venezuelan government allowed him to leave. Spain’s Foreign Minister has announced that Madrid will grant political asylum to Gonzalez Urrutia.
After seeking refuge in the Spanish embassy in Caracas, Gonzalez Urrutia fled Venezuela on a Spanish military aircraft. He had been in hiding following a dispute over the election results, where he claimed victory with 70 percent of the votes. The National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner with 51.2 percent of the votes, leading to an arrest warrant for Gonzalez on charges of electoral crimes.
President Maduro denounced allegations of election fraud and thanked election observers for ensuring a fair process. The situation reflects the ongoing political tensions in Venezuela, where opposition forces receive support from Western countries.
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