The opposition candidate in Venezuela’s current presidential election has arrived in Spain after fleeing his homeland.

A Spanish Air Force airplane carrying Edmundo González landed at Torrejon air base in Madrid on Saturday afternoon, after he was granted political asylum.

Mr González had been in hiding in Venezuela, with an arrest warrant issued for him after the opposition disputed July’s presidential election end result, which gave incumbent Nicolás Maduro a 3rd time period.

The Venezuelan opposition’s general chief, María Corina Machado, mentioned he had fled “to protect his freedom, his integrity and his life”.

His departure got here as safety forces in Venezuela have surrounded the Argentine embassy in the capital, Caracas, the place six opposition figures have been sheltering.

The nation’s international ministry alleged that terrorist acts have been being plotted inside.

Ms Machado accused Mr Maduro’s administration of unleashing “a brutal wave of repression” following the election, the outcomes of which many countries in the area have questioned.

Venezuela’s Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez mentioned Mr González had requested the Spanish authorities for political asylum.

She mentioned in a social media put up that after “voluntarily” looking for refuge on the Spanish embassy in Caracas some days in the past, Madrid had agreed to his secure passage.

Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares had earlier mentioned that Spain had granted Mr González asylum because it was “dedicated to the political rights” of all Venezuelans.

The departure of the 75-year-old got here every week after Venezuelan authorities issued an arrest warrant for him, accusing him of conspiracy and different crimes.

The opposition claimed it had proof Mr González had received by a snug margin, and uploaded detailed voting tallies to the web which counsel Mr González beat Mr Maduro convincingly.

Washington, the EU and different powers in the area have refused to acknowledge Mr Maduro because the winner with out Caracas releasing detailed voting information.

The European Union international coverage chief, Josep Borrell, described Mr González’s flight as “a tragic day for democracy in Venezuela”.

He added: “In a democracy, no political chief needs to be pressured to hunt asylum in one other nation.”