Venezuela's former presidential candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, who represents the opposition, met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, just four days after leaving the country in exile. The meeting was part of the negotiations with the government of Nicolás Maduro, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
Gonzalez's escape cast doubt on the hopes of millions of Venezuelans who supported him as a legitimate contender for the presidency.
His supporters, including the US government, consider Gonzalez the real winner of the July 28 election.
The Spanish parliament recently passed a motion from the conservative Popular Party calling on the Sánchez government to recognize González as the legally elected president. However, this proposal is not binding.
The Spanish government has expressed support for the position of the European Union, which requires Nicolás Maduro to publish the full results of the election before recognizing the new president.
The European Parliament will consider the issue of the elections in Venezuela during a meeting in Strasbourg.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez's arrival in Spain further soured diplomatic relations between Madrid and Caracas. Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, insisted yesterday on the immediate severance of diplomatic and commercial ties with Spain.