Opposition presidential candidate flees Venezuela amid arrest threats, protests

September 9, 2024

Karah Rucker, Anchor/Reporter

Full story

Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo González has fled to Spain in the latest development following Venezuela’s contentious presidential election. Many Western countries, including the United States, view González as the legitimate winner.

However, authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory and, amid widespread protests, ordered the arrest of his opponents. Just days after an arrest warrant was issued for González, he arrived at a military airport near Madrid on Sunday, Sept. 8.

This followed a negotiated deal with Maduro’s government, which allowed him to escape Venezuela and avoid charges of conspiracy. Since the election over a month ago, González had been in hiding as authorities detained thousands, including hundreds of minors, who protested Maduro’s claimed victory.

Upon arriving in Spain, González sent a voice message to his supporters, stating, “My departure from Caracas was surrounded by acts of pressure, coercion, and threats. I trust that we will soon continue our fight to achieve our freedom and the restoration of Venezuela’s democracy.”

Another key opposition leader and ally of González, María Corina Machado, posted on X, “On January 10, 2025, President-elect Edmundo González will be sworn in as constitutional president of Venezuela and commander in chief of the National Armed Forces. Let this be very clear to everyone: Edmundo will fight from the outside.”

However, González’s departure has caused concern among some of his supporters. One told The Associated Press, “What little hope we had left went with him.”

González is not the only opposition figure to flee Venezuela. Four other former presidential candidates, who faced imprisonment or arrest, have also sought safety abroad.

Maduro’s government has yet to provide proof of its victory. However, voter tally sheets collected by González show him winning by a margin of more than 2 to 1. This has led countries like the U.S. to consider González the true winner of Venezuela’s election, contributing to an ongoing debate over election integrity.

Tags: Edmundo Gonzalez, Election, Nicolas Maduro, Spain, Venezuela

Read Transcript

Media landscape

Click on bars to see headlines

512 total sources

Key points from the Left

No summary available because of a lack of coverage.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Center

No summary available because of a lack of coverage.

Report an issue with this summary

See Hide headlines from Center sources 42 sources

Key points from the Right

No summary available because of a lack of coverage.

Report an issue with this summary

Other (sources without bias rating):

See Hide headlines from Other sources 377 sources

Full story

However, González’s departure has caused concern among some of his supporters. One told The Associated Press, “What little hope we had left went with him.”

González is not the only opposition figure to flee Venezuela. Four other former presidential candidates, who faced imprisonment or arrest, have also sought safety abroad.