MADRID - Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González, who fled the country, has announced plans to return to Venezuela on January 10 to assume the presidency. González made this statement over the weekend in Spain, where he was granted asylum last month. The 75-year-old addressed a gathering of business leaders, marking his first public speech since his forced departure from Venezuela in early September. During his speech, González declared that he is the elected president of Venezuela and intends to stay in Spain only temporarily. He plans to return to his homeland by January 10 to take office as the "elected president." 

González fled to Spain in early September after a Venezuelan judge issued an arrest warrant against him, accusing him of conspiracy among other charges. He rejected the official results of the presidential elections held at the end of July. According to the electoral council, incumbent President Nicolás Maduro won the election with 51% of the vote. However, the opposition, based on their own tallies, claims that González won by a significant margin.