CARACAS, Venezuela — Nicolás Maduro is set to secure his increasingly authoritarian grip on Venezuela until 2031, with his swearing-in scheduled for Friday. This comes despite substantial proof indicating that his rival won the recent election and in the wake of widespread protests opposing his intention to embark on a third six-year term.
Authorities have announced the presence of Maduro and other officials at the legislative palace in Venezuela, where heavy police, military, and intelligence presence can be seen ensuring security. Crowds are already gathering in the nearby streets and plaza, with many attendees wearing pro-Maduro apparel.
On Thursday, numerous anti-Maduro demonstrators flooded the streets of Caracas. María Corina Machado, a key opposition figure, was reportedly taken into custody briefly by security agents and compelled to film videos against her will. Emerging from a period of avoidance, she rallied with supporters to advocate for Edmundo González, the opposition candidate, to be inaugurated in place of Maduro.
After addressing the crowd, Machado departed on a motorcycle with her security team. However, her convoy was reportedly intercepted harshly by security personnel. Her aides have since confirmed her brief detention to multiple news outlets, which has elicited condemnation from leaders across the Americas and Europe, who are speaking out against the state’s suppression of dissenting voices. President-elect Donald Trump of the United States voiced his support for Machado and González via social media, stressing that these “freedom fighters must remain safe and unharmed.”
In response to these claims, Maduro’s supporters refuted the assertion that Machado was arrested, labeling it as misinformation intended to provoke a crisis at an international level.
Before Maduro’s impending inauguration, various complaints regarding electoral fraud and severe repressive measures to quash opposition have intensified. Electoral authorities aligned with Maduro’s regime declared him the victor shortly after polls closed on July 28; however, they did not furnish any detailed vote tallies, a departure from past presidential elections. The opposition, collecting data from over 80% of electronic voting machines, asserts that González received double the votes compared to Maduro.
The global backlash surrounding the election’s transparency has compelled Maduro to request an audit of the results from the nation’s high court, which is also comprised of his associates. Although the court endorsed Maduro’s victory, it did so without substantial evidence and urged the electoral council to disclose voting data. To date, the ruling party and electoral council have not released any proof to substantiate Maduro’s claims, despite having access to tally sheets for each machine utilized.
The Carter Center, which monitored the election by invitation from the government, deemed the results published by the opposition valid. Independent election analysts permitted by the authorities to observe the vote have noted that the polling records presented online by the opposition appear to retain their original security features.
The contention over the election results has sparked both international outrage and local demonstrations. In retaliation, the government has aggressively cracked down on dissent, leading to more than 2,000 arrests and encouraging citizens to report suspected government critics. Tragically, at least 20 people have lost their lives amidst the protests, with many demonstrators alleging torture while in custody.
As of now, it is uncertain whether any foreign dignitaries will attend Friday’s inauguration ceremony at the legislative palace. Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a Maduro ally, has opted to refrain from attending, citing the recent detentions of opposition figures and human rights advocates.
At Maduro’s last inauguration in 2019, he was surrounded by regional allies including Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel. The 2018 elections, broadly classified as fraudulent, witnessed the exclusion of major opposition parties from participation.
Moreover, the future of González, who exiled to Spain in September, remains ambiguous. He previously professed intentions to return to Venezuela by Friday, yet government officials have threatened him with apprehension upon his return. His family has recently indicated that his son-in-law has been abducted in Caracas, raising concerns about the government’s involvement in the disappearance. “When did being related to Edmundo González Urrutia turn into a crime?” questioned González’s daughter, Mariana González de Tudares, as she addressed the troubling situation.
