Spain to Grant Citizenship to Venezuelan Opposition Leader

Spain has confirmed that it will grant citizenship to Leopoldo Lopez, a prominent Venezuelan opposition figure, as he faces attempts by the Venezuelan government to strip him of his nationality. Jose Manuel Albares, Spain's Foreign Minister, announced that Lopez made the request and will submit it for cabinet deliberation.

The process is expected to be expedited due to Lopez's special situation, as he finds it impossible to produce the necessary documents. Last year, the Venezuelan government requested the country's Supreme Court to revoke Lopez's citizenship, alleging his support for a U.S. military invasion during a time when Washington deployed warships to the Caribbean.

Lopez had joined a failed military uprising against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in 2019 and fled to Madrid in 2020, taking refuge in the Spanish ambassador's residence. He was sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison in 2015 for allegedly inciting deadly anti-government protests.