Edmundo Gonzalez, a Venezuelan opposition leader who ran against incumbent President Nicolas Maduro in July’s contested presidential election, has accused masked men of kidnapping his son-in-law in Caracas. Gonzalez, who is currently facing an arrest warrant in Venezuela, declared on social media that his son-in-law was abducted while dropping off his grandchildren at school. The opposition leader has asserted that he is the rightful winner of the election, which he claims was marred by lack of transparency and fairness.
Maduro, who is set to be sworn in for a third term on Friday, has faced accusations of political repression and human rights abuses, including torture and arbitrary detention. Protests erupted following the election, with opposition members challenging the official results that declared Maduro the winner. Gonzalez, who has been in exile in Spain, recently embarked on a tour across the Americas to rally support and pressure Maduro’s government.
Gonzalez’s meeting with US President Joe Biden, who recognised him as the legitimate president-elect in November, highlights international support for the Venezuelan opposition. However, it remains unclear what leverage can be exerted on Gonzalez’s behalf to challenge Maduro’s government. The situation in Venezuela continues to be volatile, with ongoing political tensions and allegations of government-led crackdowns on dissent. Gonzalez’s abduction is just the latest in a series of events that have further strained relations between the opposition and Maduro’s regime.
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