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.

"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,

The European Parliament voted on Thursday to recognise Venezuela's exiled presidential candidate Edmundo González as the "legitimate and democratically elected President of Venezuela," View on euronew

Former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González has fled into exile after being granted asylum in Spain, delivering a major blow to millions who placed their hopes in his upstart campaign to end two decades of single-party rule.

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.