Opposition leader Venezuela flight to Spain

madrid - Venezuelan opposition leader Antonio Ledezma Díaz arrived Saturday in Spain. The ex-mayor of Caracas had fled to Colombia from his home country a day earlier. He then boarded the plane to Europe.

'Here in Spain I feel free', Ledezma announced at an airport near Madrid. A small group of supporters applauded him there. They performed the Venezuelan national anthem. Also the wife and two daughters of the politician were present. Ledezma said soon to have a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

The Venezuelan authorities arrested Ledezma, an outspoken critic of the government, in 2015. He was initially detained in a prison and later got house arrest. The opposition leader finally decided to flee. According to a political ally, the authorities had threatened to send him back to the cell.