The exiled Venezuelan opposition leader says his son-in-law was kidnapped Tuesday in the capital, Caracas.
Mr. González was traveling in the United States when his son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, was kidnapped while dropping his children off at school.
In a message published on the social network
Mr. González did not provide information about the children and did not say whether they had also been kidnapped. But his daughter, Mariana, clarified in a message on X that the attackers had only taken her husband after taking the children out of the car.
The kidnapping took place despite a significant increase in the police and military presence in Caracas since New Year’s Day, in anticipation of the ceremony swearing-in of Nicolás Madurowho, according to the government, won a third term following the elections highly contested and controversial of July.
Mr. González, a retired diplomat, represented his country’s Unity Platform opposition coalition in the presidential election, which he and Mr. Maduro say they won. In a statement, the coalition described the kidnapping of Mr. Tudares as “enforced disappearance for political reasons“.
“We demand the immediate release of Rafael Tudares and all political prisoners, who are hostages of a regime that knows it is rejected by the vast majority of Venezuelans who spoke out with the force of the vote (July 28)” the coalition said in its statement.
Edmundo González in exile since the second round of elections
Mr. González left Venezuela for exile in Spain in September, after a judge issued an arrest warrant for him as part of an election-related investigation. In recent weeks, Mr. González has promised to return to his home country to take the oath of office.
Mr. González, who is 75, is currently touring the United States to rally support for his initiative to remove Mr. Maduro from office by Friday. It is in fact on this date that Mr. Maduro will begin his next presidential term, after having taken the oath.
Visiting the US capital, Mr. González met with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday. He also met with Republican House Representative Michael Waltz, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s designated national security adviser.
Mr. Gonzalez, who was recognized by several governments, including that of the United States, like the president-elect of Venezuela, has not revealed how he plans to return to his country or take action against Mr. Maduro, whose ruling United Socialist Party has firm grip and control over all branches of Venezuela’s government.
Mr. González had never run for office before July. He was chosen in April as a last-minute replacement for María Corina Machado, a leading opposition figure. The Supreme Court of Justice, controlled by Mr. Maduro, had prevented Ms. Machado from running for any position.
Since the election, Ms Machado has held protests across the country, urging her supporters to use their voices to force Mr Maduro’s departure. A protest has been organized for Friday, but it’s unclear if anyone will answer their calls and take to the streets, especially with the heightened security protocols in place.
As for Mr. González, just hours after the kidnapping of his son-in-law, he announced to his supporters that he would continue his tour in several countries, the next stop being Panama.