Venezuelan opposition politician Edmundo González has been issued an arrest warrant by a judge for alleged crimes that could result in a life sentence if convicted. González had initially challenged President Nicolás Maduro in the recent election, which many believe he actually won due to public anger over the economic collapse in the country.
Several countries and the EU have refused to recognize Maduro’s victory without detailed evidence, further deepening the political crisis in Venezuela. The arrest warrant for González includes charges of criminal association and conspiracy, with potential prison sentences of up to 10 and 16 years, respectively.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado denounced the decision, stating that it has only united supporters of González further. Human rights groups have reported hundreds of arrests in the aftermath of the election, with detained individuals facing terrorism charges and being taken to high-security prisons.
González, who has been labeled a terrorist by Maduro’s government, has not been seen in public recently, and his whereabouts are unknown. Machado has also gone into hiding but continues to participate in occasional opposition protests. The political situation in Venezuela remains tense as Maduro shows no sign of relinquishing power ahead of the inauguration of the next president on 10 January.
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