The surprise departure by González is a serious blow to efforts to unseat President Nicolás Maduro and comes just days after the government ordered his arrest.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said in a message posted on Instagram that González, who has not been seen since the election, had sought refuge in past days at Spain's embassy in Caracas.
She said the government decided to grant González safe passage out of the country to help restore "the country's political peace and tranquility."
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Delcy Rodri'guez (@delcyrodriguezv)
González, a 75 year old former diplomat, was a last minute stand in when opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was banned from running. Previously unknown to most Venezuelans, his campaign nonetheless rapidly ignited the hopes of millions of Venezuelans desperate for change after a decade long economic freefall.
While Maduro was declared the winner of the July vote, most western governments have yet to recognise his victory and are instead demanding that authorities publish a breakdown of votes.
Separately Venezuela on Saturday revoked Brazil's authorisation to represent Argentine interests in the country, including administering the embassy where six opposition figures are sheltering, the Venezuelan government said.
Venezuela broke relations with Argentina following its disputed July 28 presidential election. Brazil, like Colombia and Mexico, has asked the Venezuelan government to publish the full results of the vote.
The government has not done so and the country's electoral authority said Maduro won re-election for a third term.
In a statement, Venezuela said the decision, effective immediately, and was due to proof that the embassy was being used to plan assassination attempts against Maduro and Rodriguez.
Brazil said it had received the communication that its authorisation had been revoked "with surprise." Argentina said it rejected the "unilateral" decision. Both countries urged Maduro to respect the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
"Any attempt to invade or kidnap asylum seekers who remain in our official residence will be harshly condemned by the international community," Argentina said in a statement. "Actions like these reinforce the conviction that in Maduro's Venezuela, fundamental human rights are not respected."
A Brazilian diplomatic source said Venezuela had assured Brazil it would not invade the embassy. Brazilian newspaper Globo also reported that, without naming sources.
with AP
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