Venezuela's far-right Gonzalez Urrutia granted asylum in Spain
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Spain's Foreign Minister confirms that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia was en route to Spain aboard a Spanish military aircraft.
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Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia speaks during an event organized by the opposition political party "Encuentro Ciudadano", in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP)
Venezuela's former far-right presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia has fled the country and sought asylum in Spain, the Venezuelan authorities announced on Saturday.
"After taking refuge voluntarily at the Spanish embassy in Caracas a few days ago, (Gonzalez Urrutia) asked the Spanish government for political asylum," Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodríguez posted on social media, confirming that Caracas had agreed to his safe passage.
Gonzalez Urrutia's lawyer confirmed to AFP that the candidate had indeed departed for Spain.
Spain's Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, also confirmed on Sunday that Gonzalez Urrutia was en route to Spain aboard a Spanish military aircraft.
"Edmundo Gonzalez, at his request, is flying to Spain on a Spanish Air Force plane," he said on social media, adding that Spain was "committed to the political rights" of all Venezuelans.
Caracas' Foreign Ministry announced that the Venezuelan government had granted the necessary safe conduct in the interest of ensuring tranquility and political stability in the country.
"This conduct reaffirms the respect for the law that has prevailed in the actions of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the international community," it said in a statement.
The political crisis in Venezuela has intensified since authorities declared incumbent President Nicolas Maduro the winner of the July 28 election. The opposition has rejected the results, claiming that Gonzalez Urrutia had won by a wide margin.
Several countries, including the United States, the European Union, and multiple Latin American nations, have refused to recognize Maduro’s victory until Caracas provides a detailed breakdown of the election results.
In the aftermath of the election, Venezuelan prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez Urrutia due to his continued claims that he was the legitimate victor.
Before leaving the country, the far-right candidate had been in hiding for a month, ignoring three summonses to appear before prosecutors.
Western-backed post-election riots in Venezuela have resulted in 27 deaths and 192 injuries, with the government reporting around 2,400 arrests.
Venezuelan authorities confirmed that Maduro was re-elected with 52% of the vote. However, the opposition released its own data, claiming that Gonzalez Urrutia secured 67% of the votes.
The country’s electoral authority has been unable to provide a full breakdown of the election results, attributing the delay to a cyberattack on its systems.
According to Joel Garcia, a lawyer who has represented several opposition figures, Gonzalez Urrutia could face up to 30 years in prison if charged with all the allegations leveled against him.
Prior to his candidacy, Gonzalez Urrutia was a relatively unknown retired diplomat. He stepped in as a last-minute presidential candidate after the leading opposition figure, Maria Corina Machado, was barred from running by state institutions.
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