CARACAS, Venezuela — Claims of the detention of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado surfaced on Thursday, leading to a series of official denials that intensified the confusion surrounding an already tense situation marked by protests aimed at preventing President Nicolás Maduro from consolidating his rule.
The sequence of events began when Machado concluded her address to an enthusiastic crowd of supporters. Soon after departing on a motorcycle accompanied by her security team, her press office reported via social media that security forces had “violently intercepted” her convoy. Aides to Machado later communicated that she was indeed detained, which elicited widespread condemnation from leaders across Latin America and beyond, who demanded her immediate release.
Moments later, a short video surfaced online featuring Machado, who reassured viewers of her safety, claiming that she had been followed after the rally and had lost her handbag. “I’m good, I’m safe,” she stated in a somewhat hoarse voice, and added, “Venezuela will be free.” However, her aides claimed that the video was made under duress and asserted that after recording it, she was released, promising to share more details about her “kidnapping” soon. Attempts to establish direct contact with Machado have been unsuccessful.
In contrast, supporters of Maduro refuted the claims about Machado’s detention, accusing opposition figures of attempting to instigate a false narrative aimed at creating international turmoil. Freddy Nanez, Communications Minister, remarked, “Nobody should be surprised… Especially since it’s coming from the fascists, who were the architects of the dirty trick.”
Prior to these incidents, Machado had rallied hundreds of supporters to take to the streets, urging resistance one day before Maduro was set to assume a third six-year term, amidst credible accusations that he had lost the election. “They wanted us to fight each other, but Venezuela is united, we are not afraid,” she proclaimed from atop a truck, moments before she was reported missing.
A well-known hard-liner, Machado, 57, has remained a persistent figure in the opposition against Maduro, even as many of her colleagues sought asylum abroad amid the government’s violent crackdown on dissent. Over 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2013 due to escalating repression and economic turmoil. The pro-Maduro judiciary previously barred her from competing in the presidential race. In a tactical shift, she endorsed an obscure candidate, retired diplomat Edmundo González, who reportedly defeated Maduro by a significant margin, according to opposition-collected and internationally validated voting records.
In response to the reported arrest, González, recognized as president-elect by both the U.S. and other nations, demanded Machado’s immediate release, issuing a warning to security forces via social media. “I warn you: don’t play with fire,” he stated from the Dominican Republic, where he was meeting with President Luis Abinader and other former Latin American leaders.
Former President Donald Trump also shared his support for Machado and González, stating on Truth Social that these “freedom fighters” should not face harm and must remain safe.
Thursday’s protests faced a crackdown, with a heavy police presence dispatching riot control units to monitor the streets. Many Venezuelans expressed reluctance to participate in large gatherings, recalling the experiences of others who had been arrested in earlier protests. “Of course, there’s fewer people,” commented Miguel Contreras, an empanada vendor, as armed National Guard soldiers passed nearby, reflecting a prevailing atmosphere of fear.
In one opposition stronghold, demonstrators, particularly seniors draped in the colors of the Venezuelan flag, blocked a key avenue in defiance of Maduro, affirming their recognition of González as the nation’s rightful president. According to Javier Corrales, a Latin America scholar, the use of security forces and pro-government militias to intimidate adversaries highlights Maduro’s underlying insecurity.
Since the recent elections, over 2,000 arrests have been made, including several foreigners accused of plotting against the regime. In a particularly noteworthy incident earlier this week, masked individuals detained a former presidential candidate and a prominent advocate for free speech, as well as González’s son-in-law while he was with his children.
Corrales posited that these actions reflect both a show of force and a sign of weakness. He remarked, “Maduro is safe in office… but he and his allies recognize they are moving forward with a big lie and have no other way to justify what they are doing except by relying on the military.”
The National Electoral Council, which consists mainly of Maduro loyalists, declared him the election winner without providing access to voting data. However, the opposition managed to compile results from 85% of the electronic voting machines, which demonstrated González’s decisive victory over Maduro. Observers from the United Nations and the Carter Center, who were invited by Maduro’s government, have indicated that the opposition’s figures are credible.
The U.S. and several nations have acknowledged González as Venezuela’s president-elect. Even some of Maduro’s prior leftist allies in the region opted to forego attending the upcoming swearing-in ceremony. President Joe Biden met with González this week at the White House, commending him for inspiring many in Venezuela. He asserted, “The people of Venezuela deserve a peaceful transfer of power to the true winner of their presidential election.”
