A judge in Venezuela has issued an arrest warrant for Edmundo González, the opposition candidate in the country’s recent presidential election.
The decision came after a request from the prosecutor’s office loyal to President Nicolás Maduro.
Mr Maduro was declared the winner of July’s election by the country’s electoral council, which is heavily loyal to the government.
But the government has yet to release any evidence to back up its claim of victory, while the opposition says its polling data shows Mr González won easily.
Immediately after receiving the petition from the Venezuelan prosecutor’s office, Judge Edward Briceño, who adjudicates terrorism-related crimes in Venezuela, approved the request and an arrest warrant was issued for Mr. González.
“No one in this country is above the law, above the institutions,” President Maduro said in quotes carried by AFP news agency during his weekly television show on Monday.
The move marks a significant increase in political tensions in the South American country.
Mr. González was the candidate running against Mr. Maduro in the country’s recent presidential election. Since the vote, his opposition coalition has released online polling data showing that he won the election by a wide margin, more than 30%.
It was this data that led to the issuance of the arrest warrant.
He is accused of “serious crimes” including “abuse” of public office, falsification of documents, inciting disobedience and sabotage of the system, according to prosecutors.
Mr González, who has been in hiding since the election, has denied any wrongdoing.
The European Union has said it will not recognise Mr Maduro as having won re-election in July until it sees detailed vote counts.
Several Latin American countries have also broken ranks with Mr Maduro, including his former ally, Brazil’s President Lula, who has called for full transparency from the Venezuelan government.
The United States has recognized Mr González as the winner of the most votes, saying there is “clear” evidence of Maduro’s defeat.
However, the government-controlled National Electoral Council declared President Maduro the winner, sparking massive protests across Venezuela.
President Maduro’s government has arrested more than 2,400 people since the election, creating what the United Nations has called a “climate of fear.”
Now, the possibility that Mr. González could also be detained for inciting public disorder and conspiracy suddenly becomes much more likely.
Previously, the US Department of Justice confiscated a plane used by President Madurosaid this was done in violation of US sanctions against Venezuela.
In response, President Maduro’s government accused Washington of “piracy” and “illegally imposing its will” on the world.
