Opposition candidate arrives in Spain after fleeing country

The opposition candidate in Venezuela’s recent presidential election has arrived in Spain after fleeing his home country.

A Spanish Air Force plane carrying Edmundo González landed at Torrejon air base in Madrid, where he will be granted political asylum.

Mr. González has been hiding in Venezuela. A warrant for his arrest was issued after the opposition disputed the results of the July presidential election, in which incumbent Nicolás Maduro was awarded a third term.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said Mr González had fled “to defend his freedom, integrity and life”.

She accused Mr Maduro’s government of unleashing a “wave of brutal repression” following the election, with many countries in the region questioning the results.

Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek Saab said on Sunday that the Venezuelan government had agreed with Madrid to allow him safe passage.

Mr Maduro’s deputy had previously said the move was aimed at restoring “political peace”, after Mr González “voluntarily” sought refuge at the Spanish embassy in Caracas.

However, the Spanish foreign ministry said there had been no formal negotiations with the Venezuelan government about Mr. González’s departure.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Madrid would grant asylum to Mr. González because of its “commitment to protecting the political rights” of all Venezuelans.

The 75-year-old’s death comes a week after Venezuelan authorities sought to arrest Mr González, charging him with conspiracy and forgery, among other “serious crimes”.

He has been in hiding since 30 July for fear of arrest following claims by top government politicians that he should be “imprisoned”.

Mr González was largely unknown until March this year, when the main opposition coalition registered him as a candidate.

Ms Machado won the open primary with 93% of the vote – but the opposition sought a replacement candidate after she was barred from running for public office.

After another opposition candidate was also barred from running, Mr. González’s name was put forward.

Fearing they too might be barred from running, the opposition kept Mr González behind the scenes, while Ms Machado traveled the country urging people to vote for him.

The opposition claims it has evidence that Mr González won by a large margin and has uploaded detailed vote counts online showing Mr González convincingly defeated Mr Maduro.

Venezuela’s electoral authority has not released the results of the vote despite international pressure to do so.

The United States, the EU and most foreign governments has refused to accept Mr Maduro as the winner unless Caracas releases detailed voting data to prove the result.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, described Mr González’s flight as “a sad day for democracy in Venezuela”.

“In a democracy, no political leader should be forced to seek asylum in another country,” he added.

Several countries have recognized Mr. González as president of Venezuela.while Mr Maduro’s allies – including Russia and China and Iran – have expressed support for the election results.

Spain’s foreign minister reiterated on Sunday that until the vote count is published and verified, Madrid will not recognize Mr Maduro’s victory.

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

Mr. González’s departure comes as security forces in Venezuela surrounded the Argentine embassy in the capital Caracas.where six opposing characters are taking refuge.

The country’s foreign ministry alleged that terrorist acts were being planned inside.