Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate flees to exile in Spain

Former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez has fled into exile after being granted asylum in Spain (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

Former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez has fled into exile after being granted asylum in Spain, delivering a major blow to millions who placed their hopes in his campaign to end two decades of single-party rule.

The surprise departure of the man who Venezuela’s opposition and several foreign governments consider the legitimate winner of July’s presidential race was announced by Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez late on Saturday night.