Venezuela is experiencing high tension on the day before the inauguration of Nicolás Maduro. The opposition, led by María Corina Machado, accuses the Chavista leader of "stealing" the elections on July 28 and calls for nationwide mobilization this Thursday in support of Edmundo González Urrutia, who claims victory in those elections. Maduro continues with the wave of arrests in the country and has announced the capture of "a high-ranking FBI official" and "a high-ranking U.S. military official" among a group of seven "mercenaries" allegedly linked to a plot planned by Washington, a recurring enemy.
The opposition's call for protests is conditioned by the harsh repression of the demonstrations that erupted after the electoral authorities proclaimed Maduro reelected, resulting in 28 deaths, nearly 200 injured, and over 2,400 detained in just 48 hours. Three of the arrested individuals died in prison. María Corina Machado has promised to reappear, having not been seen in public since August 28, and lead a "historic day."
Meanwhile, in exile in Spain since September, he embarked last week on a tour that took him to Argentina, Uruguay, and the United States, where he met with President Joe Biden.
The Pope calls for respect for rights in Venezuela and wishes for the start of negotiations
Pope Francis called on Thursday for respect for the rights of all Venezuelans, including those arrested in recent months, and expressed his desire for the start of negotiations for "the common good of the country," in his traditional New Year's speech to the ambassadors of countries accredited to the Holy See, Efe reports.
In the lengthy speech, read by a collaborator as the pope explained that he is "under the weather," the pontiff reviewed wars and the situation in the world, mentioning Venezuela and "the serious political crisis in which it finds itself."
He stated that "this can only be overcome with sincere adherence to the values of truth, justice, and freedom, through respect for life, dignity, and the rights of each person, including those who have been arrested due to the events of recent months."
Maduro says that "more" than 150 foreigners have been detained in Venezuela
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro indicated that "more" than 150 foreigners, whom he described as "mercenaries," have been detained in recent months in the Caribbean country -18 more than on Tuesday- where -he claimed- they had plans to "plant bombs, attack, destroy," Efe reports.
"We already have more than 150 foreign mercenaries, Americans, Ukrainians, etc.," said the head of state at an event broadcast by the state-run Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
Likewise, Maduro accused opposition leader María Corina Machado, as he usually does, of intending to "mobilize groups of mercenaries to try to attack extreme right-wing opposition demonstrations" and once again attempting "an ambush against her own people."
Abascal insists that Edmundo González is the "elected and legitimate" president of Venezuela
The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, stated on Thursday that in Venezuela "there is an elected president and there is a legitimate president," referring to Edmundo González Urrutia, "a reflection of the sacred will expressed by the Venezuelans at the polls, who must assume the Presidency of the Republic," Servimedia reports.
Abascal made these remarks in a video posted on his social media, addressing the "brave Venezuelan people" to convey the "full support" of Vox and the "great party" of Patriots for Europe that he has the "honor" to preside over,
In this regard, he emphasized that "freedom is making its way around the world, and Venezuela will not be left behind." "There is no cause or force that can deny the Venezuelans what belongs to them for much longer: freedom and their nation," added Abascal.
Special envoy from Xi Jinping to attend Maduro's inauguration in Venezuela
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that a special envoy of President Xi Jinping, Wang Dongming, Vice President of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC, Legislative), will attend the inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Efe reports.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun, announced today at a press conference that Xi designated Wang as his special envoy for the event, which is scheduled for this Friday in the capital of the Caribbean country.
Edmundo González arrives in Santo Domingo, the last announced stop on his tour of the Americas
Opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, who claims to have won the Venezuelan presidential elections last July, arrived in Santo Domingo on Wednesday night, the last announced stop on his tour of the Americas to gather international support, Efe reports.
Shortly after 10:00 p.m. local time (01:00 GMT on Thursday), González Urrutia arrived at the Las Américas International Airport on a flight from Panama.
On Thursday, González Urrutia, who has been in exile in Spain since last September, will be received by the Dominican head of state, Luis Abinader, and members of his government at the National Palace in Santo Domingo.
Venezuela to distribute "wanted" posters against seven former Latin American presidents
Venezuela will distribute posters throughout the country with "wanted" notices against seven former Latin American presidents who expressed their intention to accompany the anti-Chavista leader Edmundo González Urrutia in his goal of being sworn in as president on January 10, when Nicolás Maduro claims he will take office for a third term in power, the Minister of the Interior, Diosdado Cabello, announced on Wednesday, Efe reports.
The official ordered the Armed Forces and police forces to distribute the posters against the former presidents Andrés Pastrana (Colombia), Mario Abdo Benítez (Paraguay), Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderón (Mexico), Mireya Moscoso and Ernesto Pérez Balladares (Panama), and Jamil Mahuad (Ecuador) "throughout the streets, ports, and airports."
In the posters, which he displayed during the broadcast of his weekly program on the state channel VTV, each one is labeled as an "invader" and accused of "conspiracy and complicity in terrorist acts, as well as attempting to undermine the peace of Venezuela."