Venezuela. Maduro is sworn in as the new president after proven and documented fraudulent elections in July 2024. Maduro has ruled Venezuela authoritarianally since 2013. The opposition’s main demonstration, a peaceful march, is held in the country’s capital, Caracas. Among them was opposition leader María Corina Machado, who had not appeared in public (for fear of arrest) since August 28, 133 days ago, and had returned to lead protests against Maduro’s inauguration, scheduled for January 10. Machado is violently detained and arrested by regime operatives who open fire on the convoy. After immediate international pressure, Machado is released. During the period of her alleged arrest, a Maduro government official interviewed by El País denied that Machado had been arrested, saying she was “calm at home.”
