Venezuela's former opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, on Wednesday said he was coerced into signing a letter effectively recognizing his defeat in July's presidential election, which electoral authorities claim was won by President Nicolas Maduro.
The revelation of the letter is the latest strain to the country's political crisis, which was exacerbated by the disputed election results and Gonzalez's recent departure for exile in Spain . Gonzalez and the Unitary Platform coalition he represented on July 28 claim they defeated Maduro by a wide margin.
The document states it was meant to be confidential, but Jorge Rodriguez, head of the National Assembly and Maduro's chief negotiator, presented it during a nationally televised press conference hours after a local news outlet published parts of it. The letter shows Gonzalez as the sender and is addressed to Rodriguez, who signed it as recipient.
Rodriguez told reporters Gonzalez signed the letter of his own volition. Gonzalez, however, in a video posted on social media said he signed it under duress .
"They showed up with a document that I would have to sign to allow my departure from the country," Gonzalez said. "In other words, either I signed or I would face consequences. There were very tense hours of coercion, blackmail and pressure."
