Venezuela's Gonzalez says he was forced to sign a letter
19/9/2024 5:55
Venezuela opposition leader
Edmundo Gonzalez, who stood against President Nicolas Maduro in
July's election, on Wednesday said he was forced to sign a
letter accepting a ruling from the country's top court which
recognized Maduro's victory.
"Either I signed or I faced the consequences," he said in a
statement.
Gonzalez is currently in Spain, where he was granted
political asylum earlier this month following the issue of a
warrant for his arrest in Venezuela.
The national electoral council proclaimed Maduro the
victor of the presidential election, which took place on July
28, prompting allegations of fraud and widespread protest as the
opposition published vote tallies online which they said showed
Gonzalez had won.
Earlier this week, a
U.N. report said Maduro's government
escalated repressive tactics to crush peaceful protests and
keep power in the aftermath of the South American country's
disputed election.
The declaration by Venezuela's top electoral authority
was approved by the country's Supreme Court, even though
officials have not published vote tallies showing Maduro's
victory.
Gonzalez said he was met at the Spanish embassy in
Caracas by Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and her
brother Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly, who
gave him the letter to sign.
"There followed very tense hours of coercion, blackmail
and pressure," Gonzalez said, adding he felt he would be more
useful in freedom than locked up.
"A document produced under duress is totally worthless,
due to a serious lack of consent," the statement added.
In Caracas, Jorge Rodriguez presented a two-page letter
signed by Gonzalez and said the former presidential candidate,
75, had 24 hours to retract his claims.
"If you don't deny that in 24 hours, I'm going to
release the audios, it's up to you, Mr. Gonzalez," Rodriguez
said, referring to the meetings he and his sister held with
Gonzalez.
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