Opposition leader González escapes to Spain - an asylum application in times of crisis

Opposition leader González escapes to Spain - an asylum application in times of crisis

Caracas/Madrid (dpa) - In a dramatic turn of political events in Venezuela, the opposition leader Edmundo González, who suffers from an arrest warrant, has decided to fly to Spain to apply for political asylum there. After the controversial presidential election, which was overshadowed by severe fraud allegations, the 75-year-old broke up in Caracas in the middle of the night and climbed an airplane of the Spanish Air Force. This machine landed in Madrid.

The background of this decision is worrying. In the weeks after the election on July 28th, Nicolás Maduro, the authoritarian president, was declared the winner by the state election authority, while the country - and also the international community - questioned the legitimacy of this result. According to reports, many opposition leaders, but also different countries, including the USA and the EU, speak of election fraud and support the claim that González actually won the election with a majority of 67 percent, while Maduro is said to have only received 30 percent. Such allegations are not new, but they look at the light on political captivity in Venezuela.

a fate day for democracy in Venezuela

The EU foreign representative Josep Borrell described the day as "sad for democracy in Venezuela". It is reported that González was forced to leave his home country because he could no longer withstand repression and political pressure. The sudden meeting, which led to his departure, was arranged by the governments of Venezuela and Spain. Delcy Rodríguez, Vice President Venezuela, said on Instagram that there were discussions between the two governments to grant González a free escort in the interest of political peace.

The older gentleman was in the last few days before he left the Spanish embassy in Caracas and was reportedly seen in the Netherlands message. Such exits are not unusual for oppositional actors in Venezuela, since many of their colleagues have taken similar steps in the past to escape the intrusive discourse of the ruling regime.

The future of González in exile

The forced escape from González could even lead to a further escalation of the tense Situation in the country. However, experts are certain that González will no longer play a prominent role in exile, since the Venezuelan population had already perceived him as a "gray mouse" before fleeing. In Madrid, González will meet his daughter Carolina, who has lived and worked there for several years. Other Venezuelan opposition leaders, such as the former mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, and Leopoldo López live in exile in the Spanish capital.

The prominent opposition politician María Corina Machado remains hidden in Venezuela, since a candidacy was already denied as a member of her time due to alleged irregularities. Maduro also referred her to prison.

Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares expressed optimistic and made it clear that his government endeavors to contribute to a dialogue between the Venezuelan government and opposition. He emphasized that a peaceful way to solve the Venezuelan people is of the utmost importance.

gonzález 'departure follows a phase of protests according to the results of the choice, which was accompanied by violent clashes between administrations and citizens. According to reports, at least 25 people were killed, while over 2,400 people were arrested. Such repression increase the concerns about the human rights situation in the country and illustrate that the pressure on oppositional voices increases.