Opposition candidate Edmundo González leaves Venezuela after receiving political asylum in Spain

Pro-democracy opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia left Venezuela this Saturday bound for Spain, where he requested and was granted political asylum.

The surprising departure of González, considered by the Venezuelan opposition and several international governments as the legitimate winner of the presidential elections on July 28, was announced by both Chavista Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and the Spanish government after the Maduro regime executed an arrest warrant for the opposition leader.

“Edmundo González has taken off from Caracas heading to Spain on a Spanish Air Force plane,” a statement from the Spanish government reads.

“The Government of Spain has arranged the diplomatic and material means necessary for his transfer, carried out at his request [and] reiterates its commitment to the political rights and physical integrity of all Venezuelans, especially political leaders,” the statement added.

The Spanish government said on Sunday that one of its air force jets transporting the 75-year old opposition leader and his wife had landed at the Torrejón de Ardoz military base outside Madrid.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told public broadcaster RTVE on Sunday that it welcomed Edmundo González.

“He has … requested asylum and the Spanish government will of course process this and concede it,” Spain’s foreign minister, Manuel Albares said on Sunday. 

“I have been able to speak to [González] and once he was aboard the airplane he expressed his gratitude toward the Spanish government and Spain,” he added.

“Of course I told him we were pleased that he is well and on his way to Spain, and I reiterated the commitment of our government to the political rights of all Venezuelans.”

González's departure occurs five days after the Venezuelan Prosecutor's Office asked a court specialized in "terrorism" crimes to issue an "arrest order" against him.

In a letter released by Venezuelan prosecutor Luis Ernesto Dueñez Reyes, the Chavista regime applied to the country’s courts for the arrest of González Urrutia for his “alleged commission of crimes of usurpation of functions” and “forging of a public document,” along with charges conspiracy, sabotage and illicit association, according to documents circulating social networks.

According to the warrants, the opposition leader is also accused of “instigation to disobedience of laws,” without further argument.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado responded to González's arrest warrant by saying that the Maduro regime’s threats “only achieve” the cohesion of the opposition’s alliance and result in an an increase in the support they are receiving inside and outside the country.

“By threatening the president-elect they only manage to unite us more and increase the support of Venezuelans and the world for Edmundo González. Serenity, courage and firmness,” Machado expressed at that time.

The elections on July 28 unleashed a strong political crisis in the South American country.

The opposition claims that González won with 67% of the votes, a claim that was supported with the publication of the minutes on the website https://resultadosconvzla.com/.

Despite the evidence, the Maduro controlled National Electoral Council (CNE) declared victory for Chavista dictator Nicolás Maduro, a decision that was validated by the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), a judicial entity also controlled by the regime.