Venezuela: González 'forced' to accept Maduro election win

Edmundo González claims he was coerced into recognising President Nicolás Maduro's victory in disputed elections.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionKamala HarrisDonald TrumpJD VanceTim WalzUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersVenezuela's González 'forced' to accept Maduro election winGetty ImagesEdmundo González has now been granted asylum in SpainVenezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González has said he was "forced" to recognise President Nicolás Maduro as the winner of July's disputed election before being allowed to seek asylum in Spain.

In a video message, González said Maduro's aides had coerced him into signing a letter while he was hiding in the Spanish embassy in Venezuela's capital Caracas earlier this month.

But Jorge Rodríguez, the head of Venezuela's National Assembly and a key Maduro ally, said González had willingly written his signature.

Electoral authorities loyal to Maduro announced him the victor in the election - something which was disputed by González, and many sections of the international community.

In Wednesday's video message from Madrid on X, González, 75, said Maduro's aides had brought him the letter, claiming that "I had to either sign it or deal with the consequences".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2kdx0zx30no

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