The wife of opposition leader Antonio Ledezma says he has been brought home after spending three days in prison. Venezuela is bracing for major protests as the government prepares to install a new all-powerful assembly.
Advertisement
Venezuelan intelligence agents returned prominent opposition leader Antonio Ledezma to his home, where he is serving house arrest, Ledezma's wife said on Twitter early Friday.
"I am letting the country know that several minutes ago, Antonio was unexpectedly returned by the Sebin (intelligence agency) to our home," Mitzy Capriles wrote.
"We thank the people of Venezuela and the international community for their concern and solidarity."
Security forces seized Ledezma, who is mayor of the capital, Caracas, together with fellow opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez before dawn Tuesday and took them to a military prison. It was not immediately clear whether Lopez would also be returned to house arrest.
The two men had been jailed after being accused of violating the terms of their house arrest and seeking to destabilize the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Both had called for protests against the creation of a new all-powerful assembly - scheduled to begin meeting on Friday - that will supersede parliament and rewrite the constitution.
Venezuela arrests - Antonietta Ledezma speaks with DW
04:28
International condemnation
Governments around the world have condemned the arrests as well as the assembly, describing its formation as an assault on basic freedoms. Washington has said it won't recognize the body, calling it "the illegitimate product of a flawed process designed by the Maduro dictatorship to further its assault on democracy."
On Friday, the Vatican urged Maduro to "avoid or suspend" the assembly and warned that it would generate "a climate of tension and confrontation" rather than "favor reconciliation and peace."
In a statement, the Holy See said it held "deep worry for the radicalization and worsening" of Venezuela's political crisis and for the rising toll of casualties and prisoners from anti-government clashes.
More than 120 people have died in four months of protests. Opposition leaders called for Venezuelans to take to the streets again on Friday to show they won't tolerate the new assembly's scheduled installation.
Maduro has defended the body, saying it will help the nation weather the political and economic crises that have led to severe food and medicine shortages. But countries around the world say the Venezuelan leader is only trying to tighten his grip on power.
Attorney General launches court challenge
On Thursday, the office of Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz submitted a court claim in an attempt to suspend the assembly's installation. The request, seen as a move to circumvent the Maduro-friendly Supreme Court, was "based on suspected crimes committed" during last Sunday's election of the 545-seat assembly, her office said on Twitter.
The South American free-trade bloc Mercosur said it was preparing to suspend oil-rich Venezuela until the country restores democracy and ends human rights violations.
nm/ng (Reuters, AFP, AP)
Venezuela on the brink
Venezuela is facing collapse amid multiple crises. DW takes a look at what has brought the oil-rich nation to its knees.
In March 2017, violent protests erupted across the country in response to a Supreme Court decision to strip the legislative branch of its powers. Amid an international outcry, President Nicolas Maduro reversed the decision, but it was too late. Thousands continued to take to the streets, calling for new elections. More than 100 people were killed in clashes with security forces.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Barreto
Hunger, a growing problem
The violence added to the ongoing economic and political crisis in Venezuela. Many Venezuelans spend more than 30 hours a week waiting in lines to shop, and are often confronted with empty shelves when they finally enter a store. President Maduro blames the crisis on US price speculation. The opposition, however, accuses the Socialist government of economic mismanagement.
Image: picture-alliance/AA/C. Becerra
Health care in crisis
The crisis has even affected health care in the oil-rich nation. Venezuelans often head to Colombia to collect medical supplies to send home, as seen in this picture. Hospitals across Venezuela have compared conditions to those seen only in war zones. As patient deaths rise, health officials have sounded the alarm on the rise of malaria and dengue fever.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/M.Duenas Castaneda
Power grab
By July 2017, Venezuela's pro-government Constituent Assembly was established. For observers, it had all the hallmarks of a power grab. The new body adopted the authority to pass legislation on a range of issues, effectively taking away the powers of Venezuela's elected congress, which was under the opposition's control. The move drew wide international condemnation.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Miraflores
The West sanctions
In response to the political crisis, the United States and European Union imposed a series of sanctions against ruling officials. The US blacklisted members of the Constituent Assembly and froze all of Maduro's assets that are subject to US jurisdiction. The EU banned arms sales to the country.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/AFP/T. Schwarz
Government victorious in regional elections
In October 2017, Venezuela held two votes: regional elections and elections for governors, which were long overdue. The opposition boycotted the vote, but then split, as some candidates and small parties chose to participate. This caused a deep rift within Maduro's opponents. The government went on to sweep the vote, which detractors say was unfair and heavily favored the regime.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
Debt default
In November 2017, the oil-rich, cash-poor nation faced its day of reckoning. Credit ratings agencies declared Venezuela and its state-run oil company in "selective default." But Russia offered to restructure the South American country's debt to ensure Caracas pays its other creditors. US and EU sanctions, however, limited the chance of an agreement.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
Presidential elections scheduled
The National Assembly announced in January 2018 that it would grant Maduro's call for snap presidential elections. The electoral authority, CNE, held the elections on May 20. The EU, the US and 14 Latin American nations warned that they would not recognize the results. The mainstream MUD opposition alliance boycotted the vote, leaving only one possible outcome.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. Parra
Maduro wins ...
Maduro was re-elected to a second six-year term with about 68 percent of the vote. Turnout was only 46 percent, according to electoral authorities. However, the MUD opposition alliance put turnout at less than 30 percent. The Organization of American States (OAS) called the elections neither free nor fair.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
... Guaido assumes power
But weeks into the new year, the situation took a drastic turn. On January 23, 2019, parliament president Juan Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela — a move that was quickly recognized by US President Donald Trump. Maduro called it a US-backed "coup." Days later, the US sanctioned Venezuela's state oil firm, while Guaido staked his claim on the country's foreign assets.