Venezuela’s Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Detained Ahead of Maduro’s Inauguration

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was detained by security forces in Caracas on Thursday, just hours after emerging from months in hiding to join anti-government protests. The arrest comes one day before President Nicolás Maduro is set to be sworn in for a controversial third term, despite widespread international condemnation of his disputed re-election in July 2024.

Machado, a prominent figure in Venezuela‘s opposition, had called for nationwide demonstrations to challenge Maduro’s legitimacy. Speaking to supporters from atop a truck in the Chacao district of Caracas, she declared, “What they do tomorrow will sentence the end of the regime.” Her appearance marked her first public appearance since August, when she went underground to avoid arrest on charges of incitement and treason.

According to her campaign team, Machado was “violently intercepted” by security forces as she left the protest. Witnesses reported that officers fired shots at motorcycles accompanying her convoy. The government has not yet commented on her detention.

The protests, organized by the opposition coalition, aim to prevent Maduro’s inauguration on Friday. Opposition candidate Edmundo González, who claims victory in the July 28 election, has been recognized as the legitimate president by several countries, including Canada and members of the European Union. González, currently in exile in Spain, vowed to return to Venezuela “very soon” to assume the presidency.

Maduro’s government has responded with a wave of arrests targeting opposition figures, including González’s son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, and moderate opposition candidate Enrique Márquez. Security forces have also militarized Caracas, blocking access to protest sites and dispersing crowds.

International support for the opposition has grown, with rallies held in cities such as New York, Madrid, Buenos Aires, and Brussels. In Lima, Peru, Venezuelan migrants gathered outside their country’s embassy, chanting, “The dictatorship will fall.” Meanwhile, the Vatican has called for respect for human rights and the start of negotiations to resolve Venezuela’s political crisis.

As tensions escalate, the future of Venezuela remains uncertain. With Machado’s detention and Maduro’s inauguration looming, the country faces a critical juncture in its ongoing struggle for democracy.