Venezuela’s opposition ex-candidate says he was forced to sign letter that effectively admits defeat
Venezuela’s former opposition candidate says he was coerced into signing a letter effectively recognizing his defeat in July’s presidential election
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s former opposition candidate, Edmundo González, 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 Nicolás 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 González's recent departure for exile in Spain. González 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 Rodríguez, 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 González as the sender and is addressed to Rodriguez, who signed it as recipient.
Rodríguez told reporters González signed the letter of his own volition. González, however, in a video posted on social media said he signed it under duress.
