Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was briefly detained on Thursday during a protest in Caracas, according to her political team, Comando con Venezuela. The incident occurred on the eve of President Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration for a contested third term.
Machado, 57, was reportedly “violently intercepted” by unidentified forces while traveling in a motorcycle convoy. Her team claimed that the convoy was shot at.
About an hour after her reported detention, a video of Machado surfaced online, in which she explained that she is safe. Her team later posted on social media, claiming that she had been forced to make the video, and that she was released shortly after recording it.
#BREAKING #Venezuela Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was detained by police and made to record a video claiming she is safe, though her location remains undisclosed.
Former Colombian President Iván Duque has joined international calls for the release of… pic.twitter.com/bcpWF8oIag
— The National Independent (@NationalIndNews) January 9, 2025
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello denied detaining Machado and accused the opposition of fabricating the incident as a publicity stunt, calling it “a media distraction.” In contrast, opposition leaders and international observers decried the incident, with Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino condemning her detention on social media and demanding respect for her personal integrity.
Machado’s detention came amid nationwide demonstrations organized by Venezuela’s opposition in protest against Maduro’s controversial re-election. Maduro, 62, was declared the winner of the July 2024 presidential election by the National Electoral Council (CNE), which is controlled by the ruling Socialist Party. However, opposition leaders, including exiled presidential candidate Edmundo González, claim the election results were fraudulent.
Lo dijimos, hoy nos encontrábamos en todas las calles de Venezuela y el mundo.
Yo estoy aquí, contigo, y HASTA EL FINAL. pic.twitter.com/ELeZlYNlcg
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) January 9, 2025
The opposition alleges that González won the election with 67% of the vote compared to Maduro’s 30%. Independent observers, including the Carter Center and the Colombian Electoral Mission, have corroborated the opposition’s findings based on thousands of voting tallies collected and published by González’s team.
As Maduro prepares for his swearing-in ceremony on Friday, his government has deployed thousands of security forces across Caracas. Protests erupted in several cities, including Valencia and Maracay, where police reportedly used tear gas against demonstrators.
#Venezuela 🇻🇪: anti-#Maduro protests have kicked off across the country as the opposition called on people to rally, a day ahead of the presidential inauguration.
Here is the city of #Merida. pic.twitter.com/absRwPwEFf
— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) January 9, 2025
#VenezuelaWatch🇻🇪: Opposition supporters are gathering in Caracas ahead of Maduro’s inauguration for a disputed third term.
Stay tuned.
pic.twitter.com/juNuhHEPYo— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) January 9, 2025
The controversy surrounding Maduro’s re-election has drawn condemnation from the United States and several other nations, which recognize González as the legitimate president.
U.S. President Joe Biden recently met with González in Washington, where he reiterated support for a “peaceful transfer of power” in Venezuela. González has also secured backing from regional leaders during his tour of the Americas.
Despite international criticism, Maduro has doubled down on accusations of foreign interference. His administration recently announced the arrest of seven foreign mercenaries including two senior US officials, alleging they were part of a coordinated effort to destabilize the country.
