Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez said he was forced to accept Nicolas Maduro as the victor in July's disputed presidential election to get out of the Spanish Embassy in Caracas and escape from the country.

Edmundo González said the government made him sign a document recognizing President Nicolás Maduro as the election winner before he could flee to Spain.

"They showed up with a document that I would have to sign to allow my departure from the country," González said. "In other words, either I signed or I would face consequences. There were very tense hours of coercion,

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González claims the regime forced him to sign a letter recognizing Nicolás Maduro as the winner of July's disputed presidential election.

Edmundo Gonzalez, a Venezuelan opposition leader, claimed he was compelled to sign a letter acknowledging President Nicolas Maduro’s victory in the July election under threat. Currently in Spain under political asylum,

Former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González has left the South American country after seeking asylum in Spain.

Venezuela’s opposition candidate was forced to admit Nicolas Maduro as the election winner in July. Edmundo Gonzalez released a video message on Wednesday claiming that the Maduro regime pressured him into signing a letter stating he lost the election.

Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia disclosed he was coerced into signing a letter conceding defeat to Nicolas Maduro. Now granted asylum in Madrid, Urrutia insists the letter is invalid and maintains his electoral victory.