Violence Escalates in Venezuela Ahead of Presidential Election
The political climate in Venezuela has taken a violent turn as opposition leader María Corina Machado was attacked and her team’s vehicles vandalized on Wednesday night.
Machado, a prominent figure in Venezuela’s opposition, reported that her team was surrounded by regime agents in Barquisimeto, Lara state, and that her cars were vandalized with the message "No to the blockade" written in paint. She also claimed that regime forces followed her and her team from Portuguesa and surrounded the residential area where they spent the night.
Regime’s Repression against Opposition Intensifies
Venezuela’s opposition has been subjected to an "escalation of repression" by the ruling Chavistas, with new arrests of militants in the days leading up to the presidential election on July 28. Machado’s team has been particularly targeted, with hundreds of members arrested so far this year.
Machado herself announced the arrest of her security chief, Milciades Ávila, just days before the attack. Ávila, a former police officer who has been working with Machado’s team for ten years, was kidnapped by regime forces on charges of gender violence.
World Warned of Escalating Repression
Machado has warned the international community about the escalating repression by President Nicolás Maduro against those involved in the campaign or supporting the opposition across the country. The attack on Machado and her team is the latest incident in a series of violent incidents targeting the opposition in the run-up to the presidential election.
Hostile Days for Opposition
The opposition in Venezuela is facing a hostile environment ahead of the election, with reports of arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and violence against those who dare to challenge the ruling government. The situation is likely to escalate in the coming days, with the opposition vowing to continue its campaign against Maduro’s regime.