Edmundo González’s lawyer: “His life was in danger”
José Vicente Haro, lawyer for opposition leader Edmundo González, explained that the former presidential candidate decided to travel to Spain in search of political asylum because his life was in danger in Venezuela.
The lawyer assured in a contact with CNN en Español that González made the decision in a matter of hours on Friday night: “His life was in danger, his physical integrity, his freedom and, in general, his personal safety were in danger.”
The decision surprised the country because The lawyer had said that Gonzalez had no plans to apply for asylum. However, this Sunday he explained that the opposition leader had two options: go to prison unjustly for crimes he did not commit or preserve his life in another country.
“It was a decision that had to be made and that Don Edmundo González Urrutia had to make it for human reasons, which perhaps many do not understand; but you have to be in his skin, you have to be in his mind, you have to be in the situation that he was in with a risk that loomed over his family, over his life, with an unjust judicial persecution, with a criminal investigation and with an arrest warrant,” he added.
Edmundo González left Venezuela on Saturday for Spain, following the arrest warrant issued against him. Several details have been revealed about his departure, such as that he took refuge in the Dutch embassy for at least a month. Afterwards, he decided to stay at the Spanish diplomatic headquarters.
What will happen to Edmundo González in Spain?
María Corina Machado posted a message to confirm that Edmundo González would travel to Spain. However, she assured that this will not be an impediment to the sworn in as president in January 2025.
González will continue his fight from exile, while she will do so in Venezuela. All with the intention of achieving political change towards democracy.
In the statement she shared, the opposition leader reaffirmed that the former candidate faced great risk in Venezuela due to the arrest warrant that was out for him.
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