Venezuela's opposition Gonzalez flees to Spain amid rising tensions

Former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez has left the country for Spain following escalating diplomatic tensions and a contested election.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed Gonzalez had sought refuge at the Spanish embassy in Caracas and departed on a Spanish Air Force plane.

The move follows an arrest warrant issued for Gonzalez by Venezuelan authorities, accusing him of conspiracy and other charges related to his claims of winning the July election.

President Nicolas Maduro’s government had faced criticism from international democracies for alleged election irregularities.

Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares affirmed Spain's commitment to Gonzalez's political rights, adding that the Venezuelan government granted him safe passage to "promote political peace."

Argentina and Brazil have urged Venezuela to respect the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, following tensions around opposition figures taking asylum in the Argentine embassy in Caracas