Venezuelan Opposition Leader Lands In Spain After Fleeing Homeland

The opposition candidate in Venezuela's recent presidential election has arrived in Spain after fleeing his homeland.

A Spanish Air Force plane carrying Edmundo Gonzaacute;lez landed at Torrejon airbase in Madrid, where he will be granted political asylum.

Mr Gonzaacute;lez had been in hiding in Venezuela. A warrant for his arrest was issued after the opposition disputed July's presidential election result, which saw incumbent Nicolaacute;s Maduro handed a third term.

The Venezuelan opposition's overall leader, Mariacute;a Corina Machado, said Mr Gonzaacute;lez had fled "to preserve his freedom, his integrity and his life".
She accused Mr Maduro's administration of unleashing "a brutal wave of repression" following the election, the results of which many nations in the region have questioned.

Mr Maduro's deputy said that after "voluntarily" seeking refuge at the Spanish embassy in Caracas, Venezuela had agreed to his safe passage.
Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares had earlier said that Spain would grant Mr Gonzaacute;lez asylum as it was "committed to the political rights" of all Venezuelans.

The departure of the 75-year-old came a week after Venezuelan authorities sought to arrest Mr Gonzaacute;lez, accusing him of conspiracy and of forging documents, among other "serious crimes".

He had been in hiding since 30 July, fearing arrest following statements made by leading government politicians who said he should be "behind bars".

Mr Gonzaacute;lez had not been widely known before March this year, when the main opposition coalition registered him as its candidate.

Ms Machado had won an open primary with 93% of the vote - but the opposition looked for an alternative candidate after she was barred from running for public office.

After another opposition candidate was also banned from standing, Mr Gonzaacute;lez's name was put forward.

Fearing he too could be barred from running, the opposition kept Mr Gonzaacute;lez in the background, while Ms Machado criss-crossed the country calling on people to vote for him.

The opposition claimed it had evidence Mr Gonzaacute;lez had won by a comfortable margin, and uploaded detailed voting tallies to the internet which suggest Mr Gonzaacute;lez beat Mr Maduro convincingly.
 
Venezuela's election body has failed to publish its voting tallies, despite international pressure to do so.

The US, the EU and other powers in the region have refused to accept Mr Maduro as the winner without Caracas releasing detailed voting data.

The European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, described Mr Gonzaacute;lez's flight as "a sad day for democracy in Venezuela".

He added: "In a democracy, no political leader should be forced to seek asylum in another country."

Some nations have recognised Mr Gonzaacute;lez as Venezuela's president, while allies of Mr Maduro - including Russia and China - have expressed support for the outcome of the election.

Spain's foreign minister reiterated on Sunday that until vote tallies were produced and verified, Madrid would not recognise Mr Maduro's victory.

Mr Albares said that Spain would "promote dialogue and negotiations between the government and the opposition to reach a peaceful solution".

Mr Gonzaacute;lez's departure came as security forces in Venezuela have surrounded the Argentine embassy in the capital, Caracas, where six opposition figures have been sheltering.

The country's foreign ministry alleged that terrorist acts were being plotted inside.BBC