Aides to Venezuela's opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, said she had been arrested on Thursday, and only a short time later was officially denied, in a confusing incident that capped a day of protests seeking to block it. President Nicolás Maduro from clinging to power.
It is unclear what happened after Machado greeted hundreds of supporters, mounted a motorcycle and ran with his security convoy through the empty streets of eastern Caracas to an undisclosed location. .
At 3:21 p.m. local time, Machado's press team said in a social media release that security forces “violently captured” his convoy. His assistants later confirmed that Associated Press that a hard-line opposition figure had been imprisoned, and immediate international criticism from Latin American leaders and beyond who demanded his release.
But about an hour later, a 20-second video of Machado was posted online by a Maduro supporter in which the opposition leader said he was followed after leaving the meeting and that he had dropped his bag. . “I'm fine, I'm safe,” Machado said in a stern voice, adding “Venezuela will be free.”
THOUSANDS OF VENEZUELA OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS ARE TAKING STREETS AHEAD OF MADURO'S THIRD CHAPTER.
His aides later said in a social media post that the video message of his life's testimony had been forced, and after recording it he was released. They said he would give details of his “abduction” later.
Meanwhile, Maduro's supporters have rejected his arrest and are happy that the government's opponents are trying to spread fake news to create an international crisis. “No one should be surprised,” said Communications Minister Freddy Nanez. “Especially since it came from the fascists, who were the architects of the dirty conspiracy.”
Earlier on Thursday, Machado addressed hundreds of supporters who heeded his call to the streets a day before the ruling party's National Assembly is set to swear in Maduro for a third six-year term. despite credible evidence that he lost the presidential election.
“They wanted us to fight, but Venezuela is united, we are not afraid,” Machado shouted from the top of a truck in the capital minutes before his arrest was reported.
Machado, 57, is a former lawyer who remained in the fight against Maduro even after many of his allies in the opposition leadership fled, joining the exodus of nearly 7 million Venezuelans. lost their country in recent years.
Loyalists who control the country's judiciary barred him from running against Maduro last year. Notably, he backed an unknown candidate – retired representative Edmundo González – who beat Maduro by a margin of more than two to one, according to polling machine records. collected by the opposition and verified by international observers.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado speaks to supporters at a protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, a day before his inauguration for a third term. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
González, calling the name of the president elected by the US and other countries, was one of those who wanted Machado to be released immediately after what is believed to be his sudden arrest.
“To the security forces, I warn you: do not play with fire,” he said in a social media post from the Dominican Republic, where he met with President Luis Abinader and a delegation of former presidents from abroad . Latin America.
There was a small turnout for Thursday's protest as riot police were present. Venezuelans who have seen Maduro's security forces round up large numbers of dissidents and bystanders since July's election were reluctant to turn out in the same numbers as they have in the past. .
“Of course, there are fewer people,” said empanada vendor Miguel Contrera as National Guard soldiers with riot shields roared by on motorcycles. “There is fear.”
The protesters who arrived blocked the main road in one of the opposition areas. Many were elderly and dressed in red, yellow and blue, responding to Machado's call to wear the colors of the Venezuelan flag. All rejected Maduro and said they would accept González as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
The deployment of security forces along with pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos” to terrorize opponents shows deep insecurity in Maduro, said Javier Corrales, a Latin America expert at Amherst College.
Since the election, the government has arrested more than 2,000 people – including 10 Americans and other foreigners – who it says are plotting to oust Maduro and sow chaos in the oil-rich South American nation. Just this week, masked gunmen arrested a former presidential candidate, a prominent free speech advocate and even González's son-in-law as he took his young children to school.
“It's an amazing show of strength but it's also a show of weakness,” said Corrales, who wrote this month's article, “How Maduro Stole Venezuela's Vote,” in the Journal of Democracy.
“Maduro is safe in office,” said Corrales, “but he and his allies realize that they are moving forward with a big lie and they have no other way to justify what they are doing than relying on the military.”
Venezuela's National Electoral Council, which also has government loyalists, declared Maduro the winner of the election. But unlike previous contests, officials did not provide access to voting records or precinct-level results.
However, the opposition collected sheets from 85% of the electronic voting machines and posted them online. They showed that its candidate, González, beat Maduro by more than two to one. Experts from the United Nations and the Atlanta-based Carter Center, both invited by Maduro's government to observe the election, said the papers published by the opposition were legitimate.
The US and other governments have also recognized González as the president-elect of Venezuela. And many of Maduro's former allies in Latin America are planning to skip Friday's swearing-in ceremony.
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President Joe Biden, when he met with González at the White House this week, praised the previously unknown retired politician for “inspiring millions.”
“The people of Venezuela deserve a peaceful transition from the person who won their presidential election,” Biden said after the meeting.