dpa
Havana
The Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González, whom the US and many Latin American countries consider the true winner of the July 28 election, arrived in Spain on Sunday, where he is seeking asylum.
González, 75, boarded a Spanish air force plane in the middle of the night after being in hiding for days following a disputed presidential election marred by accusations of widespread voter fraud and repression.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said González would “naturally” be granted asylum.
In a major escalation, the Venezuelan Attorney General’s Office recently issued an arrest warrant for González on charges including usurpation of office and incitement to sedition.
The most important opposition figure, María Corina Machado, is still in hiding in Venezuela. The 56-year-old was banned from running for office due to alleged irregularities from her time as a member of parliament.
Nicolás Maduro, the disputed winner of the election, said she should be behind bars.
On Sunday, Machado wrote on X that her fellow campaigner’s life had been in danger. González would continue his fight from Spain, she said.
She plans to continue fighting in Venezuela until the end. “Victory is ours,” she posted.
The United States and a score of Latin American countries recognized González as the election’s winner
but the incumbent Maduro claimed he had won.
