CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) 鈥 Venezuela鈥檚 former opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonz谩lez, on Wednesday said he was coerced into signing a letter effectively recognizing his defeat in July鈥檚 presidential election, which electoral authorities claim was won by President Nicol谩s Maduro.
The revelation of the letter is the latest strain to the country鈥檚 political crisis, which was exacerbated by the disputed election results and . Gonz谩lez 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 Rodr铆guez, head of the 春色直播 Assembly and Maduro鈥檚 chief negotiator, presented it during a nationally televised press conference hours after a local news outlet published parts of it. The letter shows Gonz谩lez as the sender and is addressed to Rodriguez, who signed it as recipient.
Rodr铆guez told reporters Gonz谩lez signed the letter of his own volition. Gonz谩lez, however, in a video posted on social media said .
鈥淭hey showed up with a document that I would have to sign to allow my departure from the country,鈥 Gonz谩lez said. 鈥淚n other words, either I signed or I would face consequences. There were very tense hours of coercion, blackmail and pressure.鈥
Rodr铆guez, questioned about Gonz谩lez video message, threatened to reveal audio of his conversations with Gonz谩lez if he did not take back his assertions.
Venezuela鈥檚 春色直播 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.
But from 80% of the nation鈥檚 electronic voting machines and posted them online. Gonz谩lez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said the voting records showed the former diplomat won the election with twice as many votes as Maduro.
Gonz谩lez then became the subject of an arrest warrant over an investigation into the publishing of the tally sheets.
Global condemnation over the lack of transparency prompted Maduro to ask Venezuela鈥檚 Supreme Tribunal of Justice, whose members are aligned with the ruling party, to audit the results.
Gonz谩lez, Machado, other opposition leaders and . However, in the letter made public Wednesday, Gonz谩lez admitted that while he does not agree with the tribunal鈥檚 ruling, 鈥淚 abide by it because it is a resolution of the highest court of the Republic.鈥
In contrast, in his video message, he called himself the 鈥渆lected president of millions and millions of Venezuelans鈥 and promised to 鈥渇ulfill鈥 their mandate.
Venezuela's next presidential term begins Jan. 10 and lasts six years.
