CARACAS, Venezuela — Edmundo González, a Venezuelan opposition leader currently in exile, has reported that his son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, was abducted in Caracas on Tuesday. González, who asserts he won the presidential election against Nicolás Maduro in 2022, was speaking from the United States at the time of the incident.
According to González, Tudares was taken while he was driving González’s two grandchildren to school. In a social media post, he described how “hooded men in black” halted the vehicle and forced Tudares into a gold van. The whereabouts of the grandchildren, aged six and seven, remain unknown following the abduction.
The kidnapping took place amid heightened police and military activity in Caracas, which had been increased since the New Year in anticipation of Maduro’s swearing-in ceremony for what the government claims is his third consecutive term, following the contentious election held in July. The government press office did not respond to inquiries regarding the abduction.
Representing Venezuela’s Unitary Platform, González faced off against Maduro in last year’s election, both claiming victory. The opposition coalition condemned Tudares’ kidnapping as a politically motivated “forced disappearance.” In their statement, they called for the immediate release of Tudares and all political prisoners being held by a regime that they claim lacks popular support, as indicated by the recent electoral results.
González, 75, fled to Spain in September after an arrest warrant was issued against him in connection to electoral investigations. Recently, he has expressed intentions to return to Venezuela to assume the presidency. He has been on a tour of the Americas to gather support against Maduro, including discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Representative Mike Waltz, who is expected to serve as national security adviser.
Although González was recognized by several governments, including the United States, as Venezuela’s rightful president, he has yet to outline a clear strategy for returning to power or addressing the challenges posed by Maduro’s government, which has consolidated control over the entire state apparatus.
Previously, González had not participated in elections until he was chosen in April as a last-minute substitute for María Corina Machado, a prominent opposition figure who was barred from running by the courts. Machado has since called for demonstrations on Thursday, urging supporters that action is needed to unseat Maduro, while the president has rallied his followers for a counter-demonstration on Friday.
Nevertheless, the likelihood of substantial protests is questionable given the enhanced security presence. Observers noted that on Tuesday, which marked the return to school after holiday break, the streets of Caracas were nearly empty, with many students and schools absent from the scene.
“There is a sense of unease. As soon as it gets dark, the city feels deserted,” said resident Mari Jimenez. “The heavy police presence has made us anxious.”
Later in the day, after disclosing news of his son-in-law’s kidnapping, González continued his tour, planning to head to Panama.
Kidnappings were once rampant in Venezuela, targeting the affluent amid a thriving middle class at the start of the century. Those incidents have diminished as the nation’s economy has deteriorated and many chose to emigrate. However, recent kidnappings have been increasingly linked to the government’s practice of detaining opposition figures unlawfully. Such acts are perceived as part of a broader effort to suppress dissent following the controversial electoral results.
The electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner shortly after polls closed in July, although they provided no detailed vote counts, differing from past elections. In contrast, opposition groups claim to have collected vote tallies from over 80% of electronic machines, which purportedly show González winning with significantly higher support.
The Carter Center, which was invited by Maduro’s regime to observe the elections, has supported the legitimacy of the opposition’s findings. Additionally, Luis Almagro, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, echoed the call for Tudares’ prompt release, declaring the incident a blatant act of political coercion against González, who has garnered international recognition as the electoral victor.
Machado also reported harassment, claiming that security forces had encircled her mother’s home and established barriers in her neighborhood. “Maduro and his associates are unrestrained in their malice,” she posted, condemning their actions.
