Rudolph Angler Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was arrested Thursday after security forces intercepted her convoy following a protest.
Machado, emerging from months in hiding, reappeared in public to rally against President Nicolás Maduro’s hold on power.
Her press team reported on social media that security forces fired on the motorcycle convoy as it left eastern Caracas. Machado had addressed supporters moments earlier. Details about her current location remain unknown, and Maduro’s government has not commented on the incident.
Protests and Presidential Claims Spark Tension
Mass demonstrations erupted Thursday in cities like Caracas, New York, Madrid, Buenos Aires, and Brussels, supporting opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia.
The protests coincided with González’s announcement of his return to Caracas to claim the presidency, presenting ballot papers he says prove his July 28 election victory.
In Caracas, emotions ran high. Hundreds marched, split between opposition supporters answering Machado’s call and pro-Chávez demonstrators celebrating Nicolás Maduro.
Machado, draped in a Venezuelan flag, shouted anti-Maduro slogans and declared González the rightful election winner.
Meanwhile, González sent a hopeful message from the National Palace in the Dominican Republic: “We will all meet soon in Caracas, in freedom.”
Political Showdown Looms
Venezuela’s political climate remains fraught with uncertainty. Maduro, facing international scrutiny, is set to be sworn in Friday for a third term.
The ceremony is proceeding without official records of Maduro’s claimed victory being presented.
The rivalry between Maduro and the opposition has set the stage for a pivotal moment in Venezuela’s political trajectory.
As the international community watches closely, the outcome of this confrontation could shape the nation’s future.