Venezuelan Opposition Organizes Protests Ahead of Inauguration

As Nicolas Maduro prepares to be sworn in for a third term as President of Venezuela, opposition parties, led by Maria Corina Machado, are organizing nationwide protests and seeking to challenge the legitimacy of his win in the July election, which both sides claim to have won. The U.S. has recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the legitimate president-elect, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserting he won 'resoundingly.' In response, Maduro's government has ramped up security and issued threats against opposition leaders, including an arrest warrant for Gonzalez. Machado, who has spent months in hiding, plans to join the protests, urging her supporters to peacefully resist and wear the colors of the Venezuelan flag. Meanwhile, Venezuelan expatriates in locations like Doral, Florida, are also mobilizing in solidarity with the protests against Maduro. The situation remains tense as Maduro prepares for his inauguration amidst international scrutiny and domestic unrest.