Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was briefly detained by security forces on Thursday. After months in hiding, he was arrested as soon as she came out publicly to lead a protest in Caracas. Later, however, she was released.
Machado, a 57-year-old engineer-turned-politician, attended a protest in Caracas yesterday. Standing on top of a pickup truck, she addressed thousands of supporters. A large number of police personnel were deployed there.
The rally was organized to protest the swearing-in of Nicolas Maduro for a third term as Venezuela’s president despite the controversy over the election. Maduro is scheduled to be sworn in on Friday.
“We are not afraid,” Machado told supporters gathered yesterday. ’
The turnout at the rally was smaller than expected. Many are afraid of being victims of government repression.
“From today, we are in a new chapter,” Machado said. Venezuela is free. ’
At the end of the speech, she left on the back of a motorcycle. Machado was wearing a dark jacket and a black helmet.
It’s unclear what happened next. Supporters say Machado was “forcibly” seized by security forces after she left the rally and took her with him.
Machado wrote a post on social media X. She thanked the people who attended the protest. She expressed sympathy for a Venezuelan citizen. Machado said the Venezuelan was shot and wounded while being detained by government forces.
The opposition leader also wrote, “I am in a safe place now. I am more determined than ever to work by your side till the last moment. ’
She promised to provide more information on Friday about what happened Thursday and what was going to happen in the future.
At the end of the post, she wrote: “Venezuela will be free.”