Venezuelan authorities arrested Juan Pablo Guanipa on Friday. He is a former lawmaker and a top opposition figure. They accused him of trying to disrupt the upcoming regional and parliamentary elections.
Opposition Boycotts the Vote
Guanipa is a strong supporter of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Both have urged people to boycott Sunday’s elections. These elections follow a disputed presidential vote held in July 2024.
Back then, President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory. However, the opposition and many foreign governments say Edmundo González Urrutia was the real winner. After that vote, Guanipa and Machado went into hiding.
Government Claims Foiled Sabotage Plan
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said Guanipa played a major role in a sabotage plot. He stated on national television, “He is one of the leaders of this terrorist network.”
Authorities said they seized four phones and a laptop from Guanipa. These devices allegedly showed plans to attack hospitals, metro stations, police stations, and power plants.
Moreover, they found explosives, weapons, detonators, and cash. As a result, police arrested 70 more people. Those arrested include citizens from Ecuador, Argentina, Germany, Serbia, and Pakistan.
Guanipa Sends a Message After Arrest
Soon after his arrest, a message appeared on Guanipa’s X account. It read, “If you are reading this, it is because I have been kidnapped by the forces of Nicolas Maduro’s regime. I am not sure what will happen to me in the coming hours, days and weeks. But what I am sure of is that we will win the long fight against the dictatorship.”
El dictador y ladrón de elecciones Nicolás Maduro ordenó secuestrar al opositor Juan Pablo Guanipa. Leer su mensaje cuando era inminente su secuestro por parte del régimen es estremecedor.
— Vicky Dávila (@VickyDavilaH) May 23, 2025
Así son las dictaduras. Por eso mientras los hermanos venezolanos luchan por recuperar la… https://t.co/sAAz3Phjh3 pic.twitter.com/YCOfTyCC6L
US Government Reacts
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the arrest. He said, “We are concerned following the unjustified and arbitrary arrest of opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa and over 70 individuals.” He called it part of a “new wave of repression from the Maduro regime.”
Machado Slams Maduro
Maria Corina Machado responded strongly. She accused Maduro of engaging in “STATE TERRORISM, pure and simple.” She also called Guanipa “an example for all citizens and political leaders, inside and outside Venezuela.”
Years of Repression and Economic Collapse
Over the past 12 years, Maduro has led Venezuela into crisis. The economy has collapsed under his rule. As a result, millions have fled the country.
In July, Maduro claimed to win a third term. However, he didn’t publish full results. The opposition released their own figures, showing González Urrutia had won clearly.
Prosecutors Call It a Criminal Plot
On Friday, state prosecutors charged Guanipa with being part of a “criminal organization.” They said this group tried to sabotage both the July presidential election and Sunday’s vote.
Maduro, a former bus driver, often claims foreign powers back plots to remove him. He regularly uses such claims to justify arrests of political opponents.
Flights from Colombia Suspended
Earlier in the week, the government suspended all flights from Colombia. Officials said mercenaries entered Venezuela from there. They arrested dozens more people tied to the alleged plot.
Guanipa’s Political Background
Guanipa is also a lawyer. He once served as vice president in the parallel opposition government led by Juan Guaidó. That body formed after the 2018 elections, which the opposition boycotted. Back then, many opposition candidates were banned from running.