Venezuelan Opposition Leader Edmundo Gonzalez Leaves Country for Spain Amid Election Uncertainty

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia has left the country and sought asylum in Spain. The move comes after a disputed presidential election on July 28, in which incumbent Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner by the country's electoral authority. However, the opposition claimed that González had won by a comfortable margin, citing tens of thousands of tallies published by the opposition. González had been in hiding for a month, ignoring three successive summons from the authorities. The Venezuelan government had filed a warrant for his arrest, but González was able to leave the country on a Spanish air force plane, with the agreement of the Venezuelan government. Spain's foreign minister stated that the government is committed to the political rights and physical integrity of all Venezuelans.