Venezuelan opposition chief Maria Corina Machado waves a nationwide flag throughout a protest known as by the opposition on the eve of the presidential inauguration, in Caracas on January 9, 2025. Venezuela is on tenterhooks going through demonstrations known as by each the opposition and authorities supporters. Machado emerged from hiding to guide protests in Caracas in opposition to the swearing-in of Nicolas Maduro for a extremely controversial third time period as president. (Picture by Juan BARRETO / AFP)
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan opposition chief Maria Corina Machado was arrested Thursday after popping out of hiding to guide a protest in opposition to President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, a member of her entourage advised AFP.
Minutes earlier, her group had reported on X that Machado, 57, was “violently intercepted upon exiting the rally,” and claimed photographs had been fired at her bike convoy.
Machado, who final appeared in public in August, arrived on the Caracas protest on the again of a van, waving a Venezuelan flag.
“At present all Venezuela took to the road! We’re not afraid!” she advised the thousands-strong crowd.
Her highly-anticipated look marked the climax of rallies held throughout the nation on the eve of Maduro’s swearing-in for a 3rd consecutive six-year time period after elections he’s accused of getting stolen.
Article continues after this commercial
Machado went into hiding shortly after the July 28 vote the opposition says its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had gained by a large margin.
