Leonel Fernández set to return to Dominican Republic today

Santo Domingo.- Former President Leonel Fernández will return to the Dominican Republic from Venezuela on a private plane following the suspension of commercial flights between the two countries. Fernández was in Venezuela as an observer for the recent elections and was left stranded after the Venezuelan government suspended flights to the Dominican Republic and Panama, in response to their leaders’ positions on the alleged victory of Nicolás Maduro.

A photograph circulating on social media shows Fernández preparing to board a plane at Simón Bolívar Maiquetía International Airport in Caracas. Fernández was in Venezuela along with former presidents Ernesto Samper of Colombia, José Rodríguez Zapatero of Spain, and Martín Torrijos of Panama, participating as election observers.

The former president faced criticism for his role in observing the elections. He had been in Venezuela since last week, meeting with key political figures involved in the electoral process.