Sat Jan 03 17:16:58 UTC 2026: News Article:
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Claims “Hour of Freedom” as Maduro Reportedly Captured by U.S. Forces
Caracas, Venezuela – In a dramatic turn of events, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado declared that the “hour of freedom” had arrived for Venezuela, following reports that President Nicolas Maduro was captured by US forces. Machado, who has been in hiding since Maduro’s disputed 2024 reelection, made the announcement on X.
“Venezuelans, the HOUR OF FREEDOM has arrived!” she posted.
Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, further stated that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who the opposition claims won the election, should immediately assume his constitutional mandate as president. Gonzalez Urrutia echoed the sentiment, posting on X that “these are decisive hours” and that the opposition is “ready for the great operation of the reconstruction of our nation.”
Maduro’s 2024 election victory was marred by controversy. The National Electoral Council declared him the winner but did not publish the exact tally due to a purported cyberattack. The opposition has vehemently denounced electoral fraud, alleging it was aimed at preventing Gonzalez Urrutia from taking office. Gonzalez Urrutia stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Machado after she was deemed ineligible to run.
The United States and numerous Western countries have long considered Maduro’s election wins in both 2018 and 2024 to be fraudulent.
Former U.S. President Trump addressed the situation on Fox News, stating “We have to look at it right now… the election of Maduro was a disgrace.”
Machado, though celebrated for her fight for democracy, has also faced criticism for her past association with Trump.
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