Venezuela’s opposition condemns arrests
CARACAS—Venezuelan opposition parties and NGOs decried the arrests of a prominent press freedom activist and a well-known opposition figure, among others, ahead of planned protests against Friday’s inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro for his third term.
The opposition Popular Will party said on X late on Tuesday that at least 19 people had been detained nationwide in what it termed a “worsening of persecution and repression” by the Maduro government.
Neither the Communications Ministry nor the attorney general’s office immediately responded to a request for comment about the latest arrests.
The government is investigating major opposition leaders for alleged conspiracy, among other charges, and has repeatedly accused them of inciting violence on their claims of victory in July’s presidential election.
Candidate’s son-in-law
The opposition has published ballot box-level tallies that it says show a resounding victory for its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who is now on a regional tour to promote the opposition’s cause and who is recognized by various countries as president-elect.
Gonzalez visited Panama on Wednesday and the opposition said its copies of the tallies will be stored there, in a vault at the country’s central bank.
The electoral authority and Venezuela’s top court say Maduro won, but have not published detailed tallies.
