Machado leads protest and generates mystery for his “retention” in Venezuela – La Crónica de Hoy México

After months of remaining underground, María Corina Machado reappeared with force, leading a massive protest in the Venezuelan capital in support of Edmundo González Urrutia, whom the opposition insists on recognizing as legitimate president. With a speech full of determination, Machado attacked the regime of Nicolás Maduroin an act that made it clear that the fight for political transition is still alive.

“I have never felt so proud in my life!” she declared, her voice on the verge of emotion, while hundreds of followers cheered her in unison. The slogan “We are not afraid!” It resonated like a war cry among the protesters, who filled the streets from early hours, defying the repressive siege of the ruling party.

However, the day was darkened after the news that the anti-Chavista leader had been detained by the Maduro regime. After hours of doubts about the “kidnapping,” Machado announced in the afternoon through social network X that she was safe:

“Venezuelans: Today, Bravo Pueblo demonstrated how to OVERCOME fear! I have never felt so proud to be Venezuelan. Thank you, thank you, to all the citizens who took to the streets to claim our victory on July 28 and COLLECT IT!

My heart goes out to the Venezuelan who was shot when the repressive forces of the regime detained me.

I am now in a safe place and with more determination than ever before to continue with you UNTIL THE END!

Tomorrow I will tell you what happened today and what is coming.”

Minutes of uncertainty

For approximately an hour and a half, followers of the majority opposition faced moments of uncertainty as they did not know the whereabouts and conditions of Machado, whom Human Rights Watch (HRW) considered detained.

Official media and representatives of the Venezuelan government, such as Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, released a questioned and still unverified video, in which Machado claimed to be “well” and “safe.”

The critical situation went around the world. Countries such as the US, Colombia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Panama and Argentina expressed their concern about the “attack” and “intimidation” against Machado.

Later, the political team Con Venezuela, belonging to the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), pointed out that this and other videos were recorded under duress during what they described as “the period of his kidnapping.” The organization confirmed that Machado was finally released.

The incident generated immediate rejection from opposition leaders, such as González Urrutia from the Dominican Republic, and from various sectors of the international community, who condemned the events and demanded his immediate release.

Intimidation at protests

Machado established four strategic points in the capital: the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference, the Santa Fe distributor, the Líder shopping center and Élice street in Chacao. In these locations, groups and motor vehicles deployed by the ruling party tried to intimidate the protesters, who are demanding a peaceful political transition.

Harassments were reported in various parts of the capital. In Montalbán, motorcyclists linked to the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) harassed protesters, many of them older adults, who were protesting peacefully with flags and posters in support of González.

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia asked not to minimize the fact that the anti-Chavista was “violently kidnapped,” despite her subsequent release.

“Very serious! “The fact that María Corina (Machado) is free does not minimize the fact of what happened, she was kidnapped in conditions of violence,” Urrutia stated on her social networks from Santo Domingo, one of her last stops on her international tour to gather support for the the presidential investiture tomorrow, January 10.

Officials deny retention

For his part, the Minister of the Interior of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, assured that if the Chavista Government had decided to capture the opposition leader María Corina Machado, “she would already be detained,” after Edmundo González Urrutia’s campaign team denounced the “kidnapping” and subsequent release of the former deputy.

International repudiation

The accusations against Nicolás Maduro multiplied on the eve of the inauguration in Venezuela.

From the elected president of the United States, Donald Trump, who claimed that the opponents Corina Machado and González Urrutia “must remain safe and alive,” to the Chilean president, Gabriel Boric, who stated that the Government of Nicolás Maduro is a dictatorship.”

The Government of Javier Milei described Machado’s arrest as a “criminal attack” and a “demonstration of force” by the Maduro regime.

In Mexico, Mariana Gómez del Campo, secretary of international affairs of the PAN, accused Claudia Sheinbaum of agreeing with a “criminal government.”

While the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights considered the retention against Machado “practices of State terrorism.”