María Corina Machado, the opposition leader of Venezuela, was briefly arrested for her remarks at a protest against Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration in Caracas. Security forces allegedly shot at the motorcycles carrying Machado and violently stopped her convoy.
Machado, 57, was forced to record videos while in custody before her release hours later. Information Minister Freddy Nanez rejected the detention rumors as a fake media diversion. The opposition and many global governments continue to reject Maduro’s win.
Despite heavy presence, opposition groups urged mass protests to challenge Maduro’s rule and election claim. In Valencia, police fired tear gas to disperse crowds. In Maracay, protester Roisa Gómez declared she was fighting for her vote.
Meanwhile, a 70-year-old Niegalos Payares in Caracas insisted he no longer feared standing against the regime. The disputed presidential election in July declared Maduro the winner, but the opposition and international governments labeled the results fraudulent.
Edmundo González, recognized by many as the legitimate winner, fled to Spain in September. Recently, he embarked on an American tour, securing support from leaders like US President Joe Biden.
González deposited voting tallies to prove his victory in a Panama bank. Independent analysts who reviewed 85% of these tallies affirmed his win over Maduro by a landslide. However, the Venezuelan government ignored calls for transparency and issued an arrest warrant for González, offering $100,000 for his capture.
Authorities also targeted González’s allies; they arrested his son-in-law, and security forces surrounded opposition leader María Corina Machado’s family home. Officials accuse opposition members, including politician Enrique Márquez, of plotting a coup with alleged US mercenaries.
The US government rejected the coup allegations, calling them categorically false, and supported peaceful solutions. As María Corina Machado was arrested briefly, Venezuela faces growing unrest as opposition efforts intensify amid escalating detentions.
