Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, a leader of the Venezuelan opposition, was traveling to Spain on a military plane for exile on Sunday, with safe passage granted by the government of Venezuela.

Gonzalez Urrutia had been evading authorities for a month, refusing three summons to attend court as he contested President Nicolas Maduro's re-election. He believed that showing up could have resulted in his arrest.

“Gonzalez Urrutia recently sought refuge at the Spanish embassy in Caracas and has requested political asylum from the Spanish government," announced Venezuela's vice president Delcy Rodriguez on social media, mentioning that Caracas has approved his safe departure.

Madrid's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced that Gonzalez Urrutia had left on a Spanish military plane "at his request," emphasizing Spain's dedication to the political rights of all Venezuelans.

Gonzalez Urrutia's attorney Jose Vicente Haro also told AFP that the opposing candidate had departed for Spain, without providing additional details.

Venezuela has been facing a political crisis since July when authorities announced Maduro as the winner of the election.

The rival party alleged that Gonzalez Urrutia had won by a significant lead, while crying foul.

Many countries, such as the US, EU, and various Latin American nations, have declined to acknowledge Maduro as the victor until Caracas provides thorough voting information.

Following the election, Gonzalez Urrutia was issued an arrest warrant by Venezuelan prosecutors for claiming he had won the election legitimately.

During a socialist party gathering on Saturday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised Gonzalez Urrutia as "a hero whom Spain will not desert".

The Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, stated he would be making a "significant announcement", scheduled for 11:00 am (1500 GMT) on Sunday, according to the public prosecutor's office.

- Contested election outcome -

Attorney Joel Garcia, who has represented critics of the government in Venezuela, stated that Gonzalez Urrutia could potentially receive a 30-year prison term if convicted of all charges brought against him.

Officials announced that Maduro had secured a third consecutive six-year term by winning 52 percent of the vote.

The opposition released their own voting records, indicating that Gonzalez Urrutia won 67 percent of the vote according to them.

Venezuela's electoral commission explained that it is unable to offer a detailed breakdown of the election results due to a cyber attack on its systems.

Observers have stated that there is no proof of any hacking taking place.

Violence after the election in Venezuela resulted in the death of 27 individuals and injuries to 192, with the government reporting the arrest of about 2,400 individuals.

Before the election, Gonzalez Urrutia was an obscure former diplomat.

He became the presidential candidate at the last minute as Maria Corina Machado, the main opposition figure, was disqualified from running by state institutions perceived to be loyal to Maduro.

Following the 2018 election in Venezuela, Maduro was declared the victor despite numerous allegations of fraudulent activities.

He has been in charge of the country abundant in oil but lacking in cash since 2013.

During his time in office, his leadership has experienced both issues with managing the country's economy and facing sanctions from other nations. As a result, the GDP has decreased by 80% and over seven million of the country's 30 million residents have left to live elsewhere.

⌊ Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez

FAQs

Q1: Why was Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia traveling to Spain for exile on a military plane?

• Gonzalez Urrutia was traveling to Spain for exile on a military plane because he had been evading authorities in Venezuela for a month, refusing court summons as he contested President Maduro's re-election. He believed that showing up could result in his arrest.

Q2: What was the reason behind Gonzalez Urrutia seeking political asylum from the Spanish government?

• Gonzalez Urrutia sought political asylum from the Spanish government because he had been facing an arrest warrant in Venezuela for claiming he had won the election legitimately, which the government disputed.

Q3: What steps did the Spanish government take to assist Gonzalez Urrutia in his departure to Spain?

• The Spanish Foreign Minister announced that Gonzalez Urrutia had left on a Spanish military plane at his request, emphasizing Spain's dedication to the political rights of all Venezuelans.

Q4: What were the election results in Venezuela that led to the political crisis and opposition from Gonzalez Urrutia?

• The government declared Maduro as the winner of the election, while the opposition, including Gonzalez Urrutia, alleged fraud and claimed that he had won by a significant lead, leading to a political crisis.

Q5: What was the outcome of the 2018 election in Venezuela, and how did it affect Maduro's leadership?

• Maduro was declared the victor of the 2018 election despite allegations of fraudulent activities. His leadership has faced challenges in managing the country's economy and has been subject to sanctions, leading to a decrease in GDP and millions of residents leaving the country.

Conclusion

Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia's departure to Spain highlights the ongoing political turmoil in Venezuela, marked by contested election results and the government's crackdown on opposition figures. His request for political asylum underscores the challenges faced by dissenters in a regime that has been widely criticized for its electoral integrity and human rights violations.