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.