Venezuelan Opposition Leader’s Vehicles Attacked Ahead of Tense Election

Two vehicles used by Venezuelan opposition figure and former presidential candidate, Maria Corina Machado, were attacked on Thursday, leading to widespread condemnation by the opposition alliance, the Unitary Platform, alongside supporters. The attack is part of an increasing effort by officially unknown factions to disrupt and possibly even assassinate key figures of the opposition, including Machado and Unitary Platform presidential candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia..The Attack.On Thursday morning, Machado and her team left their lodging in Barquisimeto, Lara and were greeted with vandalized vehicles. Two trucks used by Machado and her team were beaten, defaced with slogans such as "no mas bloqueo," or "no more blocking" in English, written in white paint on the sides, rear, and front of the vehicles. Machado stated that the vehicles' "crankcases" were opened and drained of oil before pointing to one of the vehicles, on which brake lines had been severed..Machado stated the cut brake lines were "clearly an attempt on the lives of who use these vehicles," before stressing that this incident occurred a mere ten days prior to Venezuela's general elections.."Cutting the brakes on one of the vehicles is a clear affront to the lives of those who travel there. This, in addition to the arbitrary detention of his head of security in recent hours, are very serious facts that cannot be tolerated in any respect," Popular Will, a center-right political party within Venezuela and member of the Unitary Platform stated following the news..This defacement comes a mere day after the detention of Machado's Head of Security, Milciades Ávila, by Venezuelan authorities in what Machado's party, Vente Venezuela, claims to have violated "all legal proceedings." This detention follows numerous other attempts by Venezuelan authorities to detain close allies of Machado and members of Vente Venezuela. One such case occurred in March, when six members of the political opposition fled to the Argentine Embassy to Venezuela following the issuance of arrest warrants for the group. After their arrival, the six opened an asylum request to Argentina which was quickly accepted. However, Venezuelan authorities began what has been described as a "siege" on the Argentine Embassy, reportedly cutting power and water to the diplomatic mission.."After issuing an arrest warrant, a siege began on the Argentine embassy in Caracas," said Omar González Moreno, a former deputy and one of the regional coordinators of the party's electoral command. "They have cut off our electricity. Refrigerators, water, and basic services.".The five others consist of Magalli Meda, the campaign manager for Machado; Pedro Urruchurtu, the international coordinator of Vente Venezuela; Humberto Villalobos, an electoral expert; Claudia Macero, who is in charge of the party's communications; and a sixth unnamed person who requested anonymity due to security concerns..The opposition members did not leave the embassy, prompting Venezuela to allow the group to safely depart for Argentina. Despite this, the Venezuelan government swiftly broke its promise, prompting the Argentine government to promise to increase pressure on Maduro's regime. As of this publication, those sheltering in the Argentine Embassy have not been able to escape Venezuela..In another attack, armed intruders broke into the house in which Machado was residing during her visit to Táchira on July 4. During this attack, one of the guards was reportedly gagged and beaten by the assailants, before searching the home for information related to the party, the Unitary Platform, and interrogating the guard alongside his comrade about the truck Machado used for tours with the reported intent to burn it. Walter Márquez, the president of the El Amparo Foundation and director of the International Committee against Impunity in Venezuela (Ciciven), stated the attack followed a number of interference in operations conducted by the Unitary Platform, citing the forced closure of restaurants that are owned by members of the opposition on June 26..Continued Political Repression.The attack on Machado's lodgings follows increased measures by the Venezuelan government to limit the ability of the Unitary Platform to campaign in the leadup to the nation's elections, which are slated for July 28. Previously, Machado, who originally won the opposition parties' primary by 90 percent in October, was barred from running for public office last year due to her support for US sanctions and criticisms against Maduro's government. Machado also fought against claims that she had participated in a number of corrupt dealings and for her public support of former opposition leader, Juan Guaido..Following the ruling, the United States revoked a portion of its sanctions relief, reimposing sanctions on Venezuela's gold mining industry. The US claimed that the numerous bans against political rivals violated the 2023 Barbados agreement, which was signed to promote political rights and electoral guarantees for those wishing to run for office. The agreement outlines several key points, including recognizing the right of political actors to choose their candidates freely and promoting electoral guarantees before the National Electoral Council..Ultimately, Machado chose a political unknown, Corina Yoris, to take her place as frontrunner in March, days prior to the registration dates for candidates. Yoris, a professor, and former news columnist who has never held public office, ultimately failed to register in what the opposition claimed was the fault of the government..In a bid to offer Venezuela an alternative to Maduro, the Unitary Platform chose to endorse former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia with the hope of registering another candidate at a later date. This hope eventually dissolved after the alliance fully endorsed González as their candidate. González, who previously served as the country's diplomat to Algeria and Argentina, maintains that Machado remains "the leader of the opposition" and "the leader of this unitary process," leaving the disqualified politician to campaign in his place..Prior to the announcement that Yoris was unable to register, arrest warrants against several members of Vente Venezuela were issued on charges of conspiracy to assassinate the President. These warrants followed hot on the heels of the arrest of more than 30 activists and political leaders–including other members of Vente Venezuela–in a move that international aid groups and the United Nations claimed was a deliberate effort to limit the opposition..In another move that has cast doubts on the future elections, Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) rescinded the European Union's invitation to oversee the nation's upcoming presidential elections in early June, citing the EU's continued sanctions on 50 figures within the nation. The move has resulted in the EU requesting the CNE to reevaluate its decision, stating in a post on X that international observation is essential to safeguard the upcoming election..As Venezuela slowly moves closer to its election date, ruling President Nicolas Maduro has stepped up efforts to prevent the influence of the Unitary Platform from growing, going so far as to label a number of unmanned opposition candidates as "fascists" and members of the "far-right." These actions may signal Maduro's concern regarding the opposition, as Machado herself has claimed that in the "worst case" scenario for the opposition, 80 percent of Venezuelans will support the Unitary Platform in the upcoming elections.