Authoritarian Venezuela is not finding peace. The departure of the opposition leader could lead to a new escalation of the situation after a controversial election and days of protests.
Opposition leader Edmundo González, who is being pursued in Venezuela on an arrest warrant, has traveled to Spain to apply for political asylum. Around six weeks after the presidential election, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud, the 75-year-old left the troubled Caribbean country on Sunday night. Before that, he had been in hiding in Caracas for days.
A Spanish Air Force plane carrying González and his wife landed at the Torrejón de Ardoz base near Madrid at around 4 p.m. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said that González would “of course” be granted asylum.
Edmundo González, at his own request, flies to Spain on a Spanish Air Force plane.
The Government of Spain is committed to the political rights and physical integrity of all Venezuelans.
— José Manuel Albares (@jmalbares) September 8, 2024
After the presidential election on July 28, the party-line electoral authority declared the authoritarian head of state Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power for eleven years, the winner. However, it did not publish the detailed results. The opposition speaks of electoral fraud and claims victory for González, against whom an arrest warrant was issued last week for charges including sabotage, conspiracy, usurpation of office and incitement to contempt. The USA, the EU and numerous Latin American countries also doubt the result.
«Sad day for democracy in Venezuela»
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell spoke of a “sad day for democracy in Venezuela”. “Faced with repression, political persecution and a direct threat to his security and freedom”, González had to leave the country and apply for asylum in Spain. He appears to have won the election “with a large majority”.
The departure was agreed by Madrid and Caracas. Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez wrote on Instagram that there had been contacts between the two governments and that González had finally been granted safe passage in the interests of political peace. The former long-time diplomat had been in the Spanish embassy in Caracas for days. According to Borrell, however, he was (also) in the Dutch embassy.
What happens next?
The forced departure could lead to an escalation of the tense situation in Venezuela. However, it is to be assumed that González will play a lesser role in Madrid. Before his candidacy, he was considered more of a “grey mouse” in Caracas. In exile, much more colorful figures, including the former self-proclaimed “interim president” Juan Guaidó, who currently lives in Miami, were quickly forgotten.
In Madrid, González will meet his daughter Carolina, who has been living and working there for years. Two high-ranking Venezuelan opposition leaders, former Caracas mayor Antonio Ledezma and Leopoldo López, also live in exile in the Spanish capital.
The most important opposition figure, María Corina Machado, is still hiding in Venezuela. The 56-year-old was banned from running for office because of alleged irregularities during her time as a member of parliament. Maduro said she belonged behind bars. In an initial reaction to the departure, Machado wrote on X that her comrade’s life had been in danger. He would continue his fight from Spain. She wanted to fight in Venezuela until the end. “Victory is ours,” she posted.
To the Venezuelans,
Edmundo González Urrutía, President-elect of Venezuela, has left the country and is in Spain.
Since our historic victory on July 28, 2024, the regime has unleashed a brutal wave of repression against all citizens,…
— Maria Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) September 8, 2024
Spain wants to mediate
Spain’s left-wing government, which also doubts Maduro’s victory, will work for dialogue and negotiations between the government and the opposition in Caracas “in order to achieve a peaceful solution for the Venezuelans,” Albares said.
According to the opposition, González received 67 percent of the vote in the election, while Maduro only received 30 percent. Protests broke out during the election, which were violently suppressed by the state. According to the human rights organization Provea, 25 people were killed and more than 2,400 were arrested. The opposition complained about numerous arbitrary arrests.
Venezuela bans Brazil from representing Argentina
Six opposition members had already sought refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas in March and are still there. After Argentina’s diplomats were expelled in a dispute over the election result, Brazil has been managing its neighbouring country’s embassy since August. This will no longer be permitted, the Venezuelan government announced on Saturday. The reason is evidence that terrorist activities and assassination plots against Maduro and Vice President Rodríguez were planned in the embassy.
According to Argentina’s government, the embassy has been surrounded by security forces and secret service agents since Friday. Argentina had previously asked the prosecution of the International Criminal Court in The Hague to request an arrest warrant against Maduro.
Maduro’s re-election in 2018 was not recognized by many countries. The then parliamentary president Guaidó declared himself interim president, but was unable to assert himself in the country – not least because the military was behind Maduro. Maduro took power in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chávez as his successor. Venezuela suffers from mismanagement, corruption and sanctions. More than 80 percent live below the poverty line. According to the UN, a good seven million people, around a quarter of the population, have left the country in recent years.