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[text/observer network wang kaiwen] according to the new york times, venezuelan opposition leader gonzalez, who has gone to spain, said on september 18 local time that in order to leave venezuela, he signed a document recognizing maduro's victory in the venezuelan election under "coercion" by the venezuelan government.

jorge rodriguez, speaker of the national assembly of venezuela, denied gonzalez's statement. he said on the 19th that gonzalez also signed a second document asking the venezuelan government to "respect" the property of him and his family and friends.

gonzalez: if you don't sign, you will have to bear the consequences

the news that gonzalez signed the document was disclosed by venezuelan media earlier on the 18th. according to reports, the document recognizes a ruling made by the venezuelan supreme court at the end of last month, confirming that maduro won the venezuelan presidential election in july this year.

the new york times said that although the document has no legal effect outside venezuela, the maduro government will use this move to portray gonzalez as a "weak leader who saved himself by abandoning his country and principles."

hours after the document was disclosed, gonzalez, who was in spain, released a video speech, saying that the document signed under duress was "absolutely invalid." in his speech, he described the "very intense coercion, blackmail and pressure" he encountered when signing the document.

gonzález said he was hiding in the spanish diplomatic residence in caracas, venezuela, earlier this month when jorge rodríguez, president of the venezuelan national assembly, and delcy rodríguez, vice president of venezuela, entered the residence and asked him to sign the document. "i either signed it or i faced the consequences," gonzález said.

gonzalez is the presidential candidate of the democratic unity alliance, a venezuelan opposition alliance. after the venezuelan general election in july this year, the election results announced by the venezuelan national electoral commission showed that the incumbent president maduro was re-elected. however, the venezuelan opposition, western countries and some latin american countries refused to accept this result. the governments of the united states, argentina and other countries have since announced that they recognize gonzalez's victory in the election, and he himself has called himself the "president-elect."

venezuela's prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the election dispute and summoned gonzalez three times, but he ignored it.

earlier this month, venezuelan judicial authorities issued an arrest warrant for gonzalez, accusing him of usurping office, forging public documents, and inciting violations of the law.

the new york times said gonzalez had been in hiding, first in the dutch diplomatic residence in caracas and then in the spanish diplomatic residence.

according to reuters, dutch foreign minister feldkamp said in a letter to the dutch parliament on september 8 that gonzalez urgently applied for asylum at the dutch embassy the day after the venezuelan election. feldkamp also revealed that gonzalez said in early september that he wanted to leave venezuela and "continue to fight" in spain.

in a video speech on the 18th, gonzalez explained his decision to leave venezuela, saying that he believed that "exile" would be "more useful" to the country than hiding in venezuela.

venezuelan government: no coercion, they want us to protect our property

after gonzalez's speech, venezuela's national assembly president rodriguez also held a press conference, showing documents signed by gonzalez and saying he would release audio of their meeting in caracas.

according to reuters, rodriguez said gonzalez had 24 hours to withdraw his signature. "if you don't deny it within 24 hours, i will release the audio. it's up to you, mr. gonzalez."

according to venezuelan media such as el pitazo, rodriguez said at a press conference on the 19th that gonzalez was not coerced and he had "surrendered."

rodriguez said gonzalez also signed a second document that required the venezuelan government to respect the property and homes of him, his family and friends. "if they continue to go against the facts, we have no choice but to make it public."

rodriguez also said that the spanish ambassador was present when they negotiated with gonzalez and did not intervene except to provide whiskey and chocolate.

however, the spanish government subsequently denied participating in the talks between gonzalez and the venezuelan government. according to reuters, spanish foreign minister alvarez said on the 19th local time that the spanish government did not invite anyone to visit gonzalez at the embassy residence, "the spanish government, and of course, the ambassador, did not participate in the negotiation of any type of document."

also on september 19, the european parliament passed a resolution recognizing gonzalez as the "legitimate president" of venezuela. agence france-presse said the resolution was not binding and did not reflect the position of eu countries. the report pointed out that so far, spain and other eu countries have only refused to recognize maduro's victory in the election and demanded that the venezuelan government announce the results of the vote.

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