Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been released after being “intercepted” at a protest in Caracas, according to her political team, Comando con Venezuela. Machado was reportedly detained briefly on Thursday and forced to record videos before being released. She is expected to address the nation soon.
The incident occurred as tensions escalate in Venezuela ahead of President Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration for a controversial third term. The July 2024 presidential election remains contested, with the opposition and independent observers alleging that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the vote by a wide margin.
While Machado’s team described her detention as an act of repression, the Venezuelan government denied any involvement. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called the claims a publicity stunt, while Attorney General Tarek William Saab accused Machado of orchestrating “theater” to incite unrest ahead of Maduro’s swearing-in.
Machado’s appearance at Thursday’s rally marked her return to public life after months of silence due to government crackdowns on opposition figures. She shared a video of herself at the protest wearing the Venezuelan flag’s colors and calling for freedom.
The U.S. and other international leaders condemned her reported detention. Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino demanded Machado’s immediate release, and the U.S. White House reaffirmed its support for Gonzalez as the legitimate president of Venezuela. President-elect Donald Trump also voiced his support for Machado and Gonzalez, calling them “freedom fighters” representing the will of the Venezuelan people.
Rival protests broke out across Caracas on the eve of Maduro’s inauguration. Opposition rallies drew thousands of supporters waving flags and chanting for liberty, while pro-government demonstrators marched in support of Maduro.
The inauguration underscores a deep divide in Venezuela, with the opposition continuing to challenge the legitimacy of Maduro’s presidency. Independent observers, including the Carter Center, have validated the opposition’s claims that Gonzalez won the election with 67% of the vote against Maduro’s 30%.
As tensions rise, the political future of Venezuela remains uncertain, with both sides refusing to back down in their claims to power.
Source: Swifteradio.com
