Venezuela’s opposition chief says he was compelled to signal letter that admits defeat

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s former opposition candidate, Edmundo González, on Wednesday stated he was coerced into signing a letter successfully recognizing his defeat in July’s presidential election, which electoral authorities declare was gained by President Nicolás Maduro.

The revelation of the letter is the most recent pressure to the nation’s political disaster, which was exacerbated by the disputed election outcomes and González’s current departure for exile in Spain. González and the Unitary Platform coalition he represented on July 28 declare they defeated Maduro by a large margin.

The doc states it was meant to be confidential, however Jorge Rodríguez, head of the Nationwide Meeting and Maduro’s chief negotiator, introduced it throughout a nationally televised press convention hours after a neighborhood information outlet printed elements of it. The letter exhibits González because the sender and is addressed to Rodriguez, who signed it as recipient.

Rodríguez instructed reporters González signed the letter of his personal volition. González, nevertheless, in a video posted on social media stated he signed it underneath duress.

“They showed up with a document that I would have to sign to allow my departure from the country,” González stated. “In other words, either I signed or I would face consequences. There were very tense hours of coercion, blackmail and pressure.”

Rodríguez, questioned about González video message, threatened to disclose audio of his conversations with González if he didn’t take again his assertions.

Venezuela’s Nationwide Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared Maduro the election winner hours after polls closed. Not like earlier presidential elections, electoral authorities didn’t present detailed vote counts.

However the opposition coalition collected tally sheets from 80% of the nation’s digital voting machines and posted them on-line. González and opposition chief Maria Corina Machado stated the voting information confirmed the previous diplomat gained the election with twice as many votes as Maduro.

González then grew to become the topic of an arrest warrant over an investigation into the publishing of the tally sheets.

International condemnation over the shortage of transparency prompted Maduro to ask Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice, whose members are aligned with the ruling social gathering, to audit the outcomes. The excessive court docket reaffirmed his victory.

González, Machado, different opposition leaders and international governments questioned the audit’s outcomes. Nevertheless, within the letter made public Wednesday, González admitted that whereas he doesn’t agree with the tribunal’s ruling, “I abide by it because it is a resolution of the highest court of the Republic.”

In distinction, in his video message, he known as himself the “elected president of millions and millions of Venezuelans” and promised to “fulfill” their mandate.

Venezuela’s subsequent presidential time period begins Jan. 10 and lasts six years.