Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was arrested Thursday after her convoy was intercepted by security forces following an anti-government protest in Caracas. Machado’s detention has drawn international condemnation and calls for her immediate release.
Machado, 57, emerged from hiding earlier Thursday to lead a protest against President Nicolás Maduro’s government, rallying demonstrators to reject his rule. Speaking to supporters before her arrest, she declared Venezuela’s unity against fear and oppression. Security forces reportedly fired on her motorcycle convoy, forcibly detaining her as it departed eastern Caracas. Her whereabouts remain unknown, and Maduro’s government has not commented on the incident.
Machado’s arrest coincides with escalating political tensions in Venezuela. The ruling party-controlled National Assembly plans to swear in Maduro for a third term Friday, despite evidence of electoral fraud. Independent tallies validated by international observers show that opposition-backed candidate Edmundo González decisively defeated Maduro in the July 2024 presidential election.
González, recognized as Venezuela’s president-elect by the U.S. and other governments, demanded Machado’s release from exile. Speaking from the Dominican Republic, González warned Maduro’s security forces against further abuses.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump also defended Machado and González, calling them representatives of Venezuela’s democratic will. Trump warned against harming opposition leaders and reiterated his support for a free Venezuela.
The Maduro regime has intensified its crackdown on dissent since the disputed election, detaining more than 2,000 individuals, including prominent activists and opposition figures. Security forces and pro-government militias, known as colectivos, have been deployed to suppress protests and intimidate opposition supporters.
Observers say Maduro’s reliance on force underscores his weakened legitimacy. International organizations, including the United Nations and the Carter Center, have affirmed the opposition’s electoral data, which showed González winning by a two-to-one margin. Many Latin American leaders have distanced themselves from Maduro, with some refusing to attend his upcoming swearing-in ceremony.
Despite limited turnout at Thursday’s protests due to fears of repression, demonstrators who did gather wore Venezuela’s national colors in defiance of Maduro’s regime. Human rights groups and governments worldwide continue to press for Machado’s release and a peaceful resolution to the political crisis.
