The plane of the Spanish Air Force that is transporting Edmundo González to Spain landed around 16:00 hours at the Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base (Madrid), as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
PUBLICIDAD
From now on, the procedures for requesting asylum will begin, and the resolution, according to the Ministry, "will be favorable in the interest of Spain's commitment to the political rights and physical integrity of all Venezuelans, especially political leaders."
PUBLICIDAD
González, who traveled accompanied by his wife and by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, Diego Martínez Belío, was received by the Secretary of State for Ibero-America and Spanish in the World, Susana Sumelzo.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, issued a message of gratitude to all the professionals from his Ministry and the Ministry of Defense who have made it possible for Edmundo González to be in Spain. "Spain is committed to democracy and human rights in Venezuela," he said on his social media account X.
The reception of Edmundo González, to whom Spain is going to grant asylum at his own request, does not change the government's position of not recognizing the “supposed victory” of Nicolás Maduro in the presidential elections of July 28 until the minutes are presented, and of advocating for dialogue among Venezuelans to find a solution.
More than a month at the Embassy of the Netherlands
Edmundo González left Venezuela on a Spanish Air Force plane after spending some time at the residence of the Spanish Embassy in Caracas.
The opposition leader was in hiding at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Caracas for more than a month before seeking refuge at the residence of the Spanish ambassador and heading to Spain, according to the Dutch government this Sunday.
Albares was able to speak this Sunday with the opposition candidate, who "has expressed his gratitude towards the Government and towards Spain," while he has reiterated "the commitment of the Government of Spain to the political rights, freedom of expression and demonstration, and the physical integrity of all Venezuelans."
"The position of the Government of Spain remains unchanged from what it was before Edmundo González left," Albares emphasized, according to statements provided by his department.
Thus, he demands the publication of all electoral minutes for verification and stressed that the Government will not recognize "any supposed victory if that cannot be done". He has also pointed out that "Spain will always be there to promote dialogue and negotiation between the Government and the opposition to achieve a solution that must be peaceful and genuinely Venezuelan among Venezuelans".
Regarding the possible reaction of the Venezuelan Government, the minister has insisted that the Executive has made it very clear that everything it does is "in favor of Venezuela and the Venezuelan people," hence the commitment to dialogue between the parties.
Finally, Albares does not rule out the possibility that other Venezuelan opposition members may follow in Edmundo González’s footsteps. “Spain is never going to close the door to any Venezuelan,” he emphasized, pointing out that there are already over 100,000 people under special status.