Live: All about the inauguration in Venezuela

The president-elect of Venezuela made a statement through his social networks on the events related to the kidnapping and subsequent release of Machado. González described the event as “very serious” and warned that the fact that Machado is now at liberty does not reduce the seriousness of what happened. “She was kidnapped under violent conditions,” he stressed.

While international figures and former Colombian presidents such as Álvaro Uribe, Juan Manuel Santos and Iván Duque have strongly condemned the incident and demanded explanations from the regime of Nicolás Maduro, the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, chose to dismiss the allegations as part of the “world of fake news.”

María Corina Machado's National Campaign Command reported that the Venezuelan opposition leader was intercepted and taken by force while she was riding a motorcycle after participating in a rally in Chacao, Caracas. According to the statement, the incident included gunshots, and during her capture, Machado was forced to record several videos.
Machado was released shortly thereafter. Her team confirmed that in the coming hours she will address the country to explain the details of what happened.

Journalists and public figures have begun to report about the possible release of María Corina Machado. The news, still without official confirmation, has generated hope and concern both among her followers and the international community, which demands proof of life and clarity on her current condition.

After learning of Machado's kidnapping, several personalities have called for the release of the opposition leader. Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar stated that "if you attack María Corina Machado, we the United States will attack you".

President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia called for the release of the Venezuelan opposition leader. "To the security forces that kidnapped her I say: don't play with fire," Gonzalez wrote on X.

The Comando con Venezuela denounced that María Corina Machado was kidnapped as she was leaving the demonstration in Caracas.


"She was violently intercepted as she was leaving the rally in Chacao. We hope to confirm her situation in a few minutes. Regime personnel fired at the motorcycles that were transporting her," the Comando con Venezuela wrote on X.

Opposition leader, María Corina Machado, came out of hiding and met with Venezuelans at the demonstration in Caracas. From there, she stated that "now comes the good" and that people must be attentive to the "signs of the coming hours." In this sense, she emphasized that whatever Maduro does on January 10 "marks the end of the regime."

Venezuelans filled the streets to support opposition leader María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia. A large number of people in several Venezuelan states were seen on social media backing the opposition's call despite the heavy security deployment imposed by Nicolas Maduro's regime.

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, spoke with opposition leader María Corina Machado in a phone call. Following the conversation, Joly stated on her X account that Canada recognizes Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of the elections in Venezuela.

Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, thanked Venezuelans for attending the call for rallies throughout the country and the world.

"The brave people already in the streets of the world! We will also meet throughout Venezuela, with serenity, with firmness and with the same energy that we went out on July 28 to win. Let's all go," Machado posted on social media.

The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, met with Edmundo González Urrutia, the president-elect of Venezuela, who is in the country ahead of his planned return to Venezuela to assume office in Caracas. 

"We will all see each other very soon in Caracas in freedom," said González Urrutia at an event in Santo Domingo with President Luis Abinader, who expressed his support for him.

Officers of the Bolivarian National Guard suppressed a protest in Valencia, Carabobo state. Local media reported that the protest was primarily composed of elderly individuals.

In Venezuela's capital, Caracas, people took to the streets chanting 'Gloria al bravo pueblo' (Glory to the brave people), referencing the country's national anthem. The demonstration unfolded amidst heavy militarization in the city.

Venezuelans began to demonstrate in several cities, despite the Maduro regime’s militarization of areas where the opposition had called for protests. Videos shared on social media show people responding to the call of opposition leader María Corina Machado and president-elect Edmundo González Urrutia.

Protests were held in several cities, including Amsterdam (Netherlands), Kobe (Japan), and Dresden, calling for the return of democracy in Venezuela. Comando Con Venezuela shared images of these global demonstrations.

The speaker of the House of Representatives emphasized in a press release the need to restore democracy in Venezuela. He shared that during his meeting with Edmundo González Urrutia, the president-elect of Venezuela, they discussed the regional threat posed by Nicolás Maduro's regime.
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​“I am eager to begin working with the incoming Trump administration to confront all those who terrorize and intimidate the people of Venezuela, and ensure Congress is ready to support democracy in Venezuela and uphold America’s interests in the region,” Johnson said. 

Venezuelans are preparing to protest against Nicolás Maduro’s regime, demanding that Edmundo González Urrutia be sworn in as president of Venezuela. According to the Constitution, January 10 is the designated date for the president to take office.


This year, however, the date is marked by uncertainty. Nicolás Maduro insists on taking office again despite failing to provide the electoral records from the last elections held on January 10, as well as the contested July 28 elections, which have not been recognized by much of the international community. In contrast, Edmundo González Urrutia has presented evidence showing at least 85% of the votes in his favor, with a voter turnout of 65%, supporting his claim to the presidency.


Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado has called for nationwide protests and urged the over 8 million Venezuelans abroad to join demonstrations in various countries. González Urrutia’s campaign team argues that the future of democratic stability in the Western Hemisphere hinges on Venezuela's fate.

"I cannot guarantee the day or the hour, it may be before, during or after January 10, but it is going to happen. That tyranny is going to leave and Venezuela is going to be free,” said Maria Corina Machado in a recent press conference.