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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) \u2014 Venezuela\u2019s former opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez, on Wednesday said he was coerced into signing a letter effectively recognizing his defeat in July\u2019s presidential election, which electoral authorities claim was won by President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n
The revelation of the letter is the latest strain to the country\u2019s political crisis, which was exacerbated by the disputed election results and Gonz\u00e1lez recent departure for exile in Spain. Gonz\u00e1lez and the Unitary Platform coalition he represented on July 28 claim they defeated Maduro by a wide margin.<\/p>\n
The document states it was meant to be confidential, but Jorge Rodr\u00edguez, head of the National Assembly and Maduro\u2019s chief negotiator, presented it during a nationally televised press conference hours after a local news outlet published parts of it. The letter shows Gonz\u00e1lez as the sender and is addressed to Rodriguez, who signed it as recipient.<\/p>\n
Rodr\u00edguez told reporters Gonz\u00e1lez signed the letter of his own volition. Gonz\u00e1lez, however, in a video posted on social media said he signed it under coercion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey showed up with a document that I would have to sign to allow my departure from the country,\u201d Gonz\u00e1lez said. \u201cIn other words, either I signed or I would face consequences. There were very tense hours of coercion, blackmail and pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodr\u00edguez, questioned about Gonz\u00e1lez video message, threatened to reveal audio of his conversations with Gonz\u00e1lez if he did not take back his assertions.<\/p>\n
Venezuela\u2019s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared Maduro the election winner hours after polls closed. Unlike previous presidential elections, electoral authorities did not provide detailed vote counts.<\/p>\n
But the opposition coalition collected tally sheets from 80% of the nation\u2019s electronic voting machines and posted them online. Gonz\u00e1lez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said the voting records showed the former diplomat won the election with twice as many votes as Maduro.<\/p>\n
Gonz\u00e1lez became the subject of an arrest warrant over an investigation into the publishing of the tally sheets.<\/p>\n
Global condemnation over the lack of transparency prompted Maduro to ask Venezuela\u2019s Supreme Tribunal of Justice, whose members are aligned with the ruling party, to audit the results. The high court reaffirmed his victory.<\/p>\n
Gonz\u00e1lez, Machado, other opposition leaders and foreign governments questioned the audit\u2019s results. However, in the letter made public Wednesday, Gonz\u00e1lez admitted that while he does not agree with the tribunal\u2019s ruling, \u201cI abide by it because it is a resolution of the highest court of the Republic.\u201d<\/p>\n
In contrast, in his video message, he called himself the \u201celected president of millions and millions of Venezuelans\u201d and promised to \u201cfulfill\u201d their mandate.<\/p>\n
Venezuela’s next presidential term begins Jan. 10 and lasts six years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n