MADRID, Sept 19 (Askume) – Spain has refused to take part in talks between Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez and his government over a visit by President Nicolas Maduro to Spain, despite previously signing a letter of intent that is said to acknowledge Maduro’s victory in the election .
The letter, which included a pledge to limit Spanish political activity, was signed at the Spanish ambassador’s residence in Caracas, where González had sought refuge before leaving.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez showed a printed photo of himself at the signing of the document, accompanied by his sister, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, and Spain’s ambassador to Venezuela, Ramon.
However, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez told reporters in Brussels on Thursday that the Spanish government had not invited anyone to meet Gonzalez at the ambassador’s residence.
“The Spanish government, and certainly the ambassador, were not involved in the negotiations on any type of document,” Jose Manuel Alberez told reporters in Brussels.
González, who was granted political asylum in Spain earlier this month , said in a video message released on Wednesday that the letter was signed under “coercion, blackmail and pressure.”
On Thursday, a senior leader of Spain’s opposition Popular Party (PP) said Madrid was involved in an effort to expel Gonzalez from Venezuela in order to ensure Maduro remains in power.
“Apart from watching people being blackmailed live, Spain is clearly complicit in allowing Maduro to continue his dictatorship,” Esteban González Ponce, deputy secretary general of the Popular Party, said in a radio interview.
Spain’s Foreign Ministry responded, saying Spain had nothing to do with González’s withdrawal letter or the negotiations.
“When Gonzalez asked to go to the Spanish ambassador’s residence, he was assured that he could meet anyone and make any arrangements depending on his situation,” the statement said.
“The foreign minister directly instructed the ambassador not to interfere in any action taken by the opposition leader.”
González left Venezuela after a warrant for his arrest on conspiracy and other criminal charges was issued following the election.
Both Delcy and Jorge Rodríguez have been the target of EU sanctions and travel bans since 2018.
Venezuela’s National Election Commission declared Maduro the winner of the July 28 presidential election, sparking allegations of fraud and widespread protests as the opposition released online vote counts they said showed González had won.
Earlier this week, a UN report said Maduro’s government has used repressive tactics to suppress peaceful protests and remain in power following the South American country’s disputed election.
