Venezuela’s Exiled Opposition Leader Claims He Was Warned About Imminent Threat from Maduro’s Forces

By Corina Pons

MADRID – Edmundo Gonzalez, a former presidential candidate from Venezuela, revealed on Friday that he sought diplomatic refuge after receiving warnings that security forces loyal to President Nicolas Maduro were coming for him.

Gonzalez, who the opposition claims was the legitimate winner of a July election that was awarded to Maduro, shared in an interview in Madrid that remaining in Venezuela could have resulted in his imprisonment and potential torture.

The 75-year-old ex-diplomat fled to Spain after securing assurances regarding the safety of his family and property back home. He expressed his desire to freely seek support from global leaders in his pursuit of the presidency.

“A security official working with me informed me that the security forces were coming for me, and it was best to find refuge,” Gonzalez stated. He emphasized that while he could have gone into hiding, he needed to be free to raise awareness about the situation in Venezuela and build contacts internationally.

A Venezuelan court had issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez, accusing him of conspiracy and other crimes amidst allegations from Maduro that the opposition was planning a coup to overthrow him.

The Venezuelan government has not yet responded to requests for a comment on Gonzalez’s statements.

Since arriving in Madrid on September 8, the former presidential candidate has met with prominent Spanish political figures and has received invitations to visit Germany, the Netherlands, and the European Commission as part of his European tour.

Gonzalez expressed confidence that a peaceful transition of power in Venezuela was still achievable, with him as a potential leader. “I want to ensure that the will of the 8 million Venezuelans who voted for me on July 28 is respected,” he affirmed, referencing the opposition’s claim of a decisive electoral victory.

Initially, Gonzalez sought refuge in the Dutch embassy, but after 32 days, he decided to request asylum at the residence of the Spanish ambassador. He mentioned that once the arrest warrant was issued, he would face imprisonment, likely in a facility known for torture.

Recently, it was reported that while at the Spanish ambassador’s residence, Gonzalez signed a letter recognizing Maduro’s election victory. The Venezuelan government released photos of the signing, which took place in the presence of National Assembly head Jorge Rodriguez and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

Gonzalez described the process as “very tense” and stated that he felt “coerced” into signing the document after extensive discussions with Venezuelan officials. He clarified that photographs and recordings were made without his consent, distancing the ambassador from the situation.

He did receive written guarantees concerning the safety of his daughter and her family, who remain in Venezuela, along with assurances for his car and apartment. While he did not seek guarantees for the release of political prisoners at that time, he brought attention to this issue in international forums. According to Venezuelan human rights group Foro Penal, over 1,600 people have been arrested since July 29, many during protests, though 80 teenagers were released on September 1.

Gonzalez noted that the remaining opposition leader, María Corina Machado, was unaware of his plan to leave until the day before he approached the Spanish embassy. He expressed confidence that she would not face a similar situation but warned that any political leader could be at risk.