MADRID, Spain: Madrid announced on Sunday that it would grant political asylum to Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who fled Venezuela after a month in hiding.
Gonzalez Urrutia, who contested President Nicolas Maduro’s re-election on July 28, left his country fearing arrest after ignoring three consecutive summons to appear before prosecutors. He claimed that attending the hearings could have jeopardized his freedom.
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares confirmed Gonzalez Urrutia’s departure on a Spanish military plane, stating that Spain would “obviously” grant him asylum. He added that Spain is committed to supporting the political rights of all Venezuelans. The Venezuelan government, represented by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, acknowledged the opposition leader’s request for safe passage to Spain after he took refuge at the Spanish embassy in Caracas.
Venezuela has been embroiled in a political crisis since July, following the contentious presidential election where authorities declared Maduro the winner. The opposition, however, claimed that Gonzalez Urrutia had won by a significant margin. Multiple countries, including the United States and members of the European Union, have refused to recognize Maduro’s victory due to the lack of detailed voting data from Caracas.
Following the disputed election, Venezuelan prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez Urrutia, who maintained he was the rightful winner. His lawyer, Joel Garcia, noted that if charged with all accusations leveled by the government, Gonzalez Urrutia could face a 30-year prison sentence. The opposition alleges that their own voting records show Gonzalez Urrutia winning with 67% of the vote, in contrast to the official 52% attributed to Maduro.
The situation has led to significant unrest in Venezuela, with post-election violence resulting in 27 deaths and 192 injuries. The government claims to have arrested around 2,400 people in connection with the unrest. The crisis follows a broader pattern of political instability in Venezuela under Maduro’s leadership, characterized by economic mismanagement and international sanctions, leading to a severe economic downturn and mass emigration.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised Gonzalez Urrutia as “a hero,” signaling Spain’s strong political stance in supporting Venezuelan opposition figures and their fight for democratic rights. The asylum grant is expected to deepen international tensions concerning the legitimacy of Maduro’s government and the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela.
