Venezuela opposition candidate Gonzalez leaves for Spain as diplomatic tensions rise

Former Venezuelan presidential opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez has sought refuge in the Spanish embassy in Caracas and has since left for Spain on a Spanish Air Force plane. This comes after Venezuela’s contested election in July, where democracies around the world criticized the government’s handling of the vote. Gonzalez’s exit follows an arrest warrant issued against him for publishing vote tallies online that allegedly showed he won the election. Additionally, Venezuela revoked Brazil’s authorization to represent Argentine interests in the country, leading to rising diplomatic tensions. The situation escalated with reports of surveillance and lack of electricity at the Argentine residence where opposition members are sheltering. Argentina has requested the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Maduro and other officials for post-election events.