Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Reappears and Is Reportedly Detained After Convoy Attack

Jan 9, 2025, 07:30 PM

María Corina Machado, a leading Venezuelan opposition figure, reappeared in public on January 9, 2025, after 133 days in hiding to join an opposition protest in Chacao, Caracas. Accompanied by fellow opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa, Machado addressed the crowd, declaring, "Venezuela has already decided; we will continue. We are, as of today, in a new phase." She criticized President Nicolás Maduro's upcoming inauguration, which opponents claim follows a fraudulent election. Shortly after her appearance, security forces reportedly intercepted her convoy, with reports indicating that officials fired upon the motorcycles transporting her, injuring at least one person. According to her party, Vente Venezuela, Machado was detained by regime forces. Her current status remains unclear.