Former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González has fled to Spain after being granted asylum, following an arrest order by the Venezuelan government, AP News reports.
The Venezuelan government, which had recently ordered his arrest, allowed González to leave the country to help restore “political peace.” Spain granted him asylum, and he departed on a military plane after spending time at the Spanish Embassy in Caracas. His departure is seen as a setback for many Venezuelans who hoped his campaign would end over 20 years of single-party rule.
While President Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner of the July presidential election, opposition volunteers claimed González won by a large margin. However, Venezuelan authorities have yet to release official voting data, citing a cyberattack.
