Venezuela opposition leader Edmundo González reportedly leaves country for Spain

Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González has left the South American country after seeking asylum in Spain, according to the Spanish foreign minister.

“Edmundo González, at his own request, flew to Spain on a Spanish air force plane,” José Manuel Albares said in a statement online, adding that the “government of Spain is committed to the political rights and physical integrity of all Venezuelans”.

The surprise departure by the candidate, who Venezuela’s opposition and several foreign governments consider the legitimate winner of July’s presidential election, comes just days after the government ordered his arrest.