CARACAS. Venezuela (AP) 鈥 Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonz谩lez, who claims to have defeated President Nicol谩s Maduro in last year鈥檚 presidential election, said his son-in-law was kidnapped Tuesday in the capital, Caracas.
Gonz谩lez said Rafael Tudares was kidnapped while on his way to drop off Gonz谩lez鈥檚 two grandchildren at school. In a post on X, Gonz谩lez said 鈥渉ooded men, dressed in black鈥 intercepted the vehicle and loaded Tudares 鈥渋nto a gold-colored van.鈥 He did not say what happened to his 6- and 7-year-old grandchildren.
The kidnapping occurred despite a significant increase in police and military presence since New Year鈥檚 Day across Caracas ahead of Friday's presidential swearing-in ceremony.
The government鈥檚 centralized press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Gonz谩lez, a retired diplomat, represented Venezuela鈥檚 main opposition coalition in the July presidential election, which he and Maduro both claim to have won.
He left Venezuela for exile in Spain in September after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with an election-related investigation. In recent weeks, he has vowed to return to his homeland to take the oath of office.
Gonz谩lez, 75, is touring the Americas to try to rally support for his effort to get Maduro out of office by Friday. That's when, by law, the South American country鈥檚 next presidential term begins. On Monday, Gonz谩lez met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House as well as with U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 designate to be his national security adviser once he is sworn in on Jan. 20.
Gonz谩lez, who has been recognized by several governments including the U.S. as Venezuela's president-elect, has not explained how he plans to return to the troubled country or wrest power from Maduro, whose ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela controls all aspects of government.
Gonz谩lez had never run for office before July, when he represented the Unitary Platform coalition. The coalition selected him in April as a last-minute stand-in for opposition powerhouse , who was blocked by the Maduro-controlled Supreme Tribunal of Justice from running for any office.
Machado last week urged supporters to demonstrate across Venezuela on Thursday, telling them in a video message that Maduro will not step down on his own and they 鈥渕ust make him leave.鈥
Meanwhile, Maduro has asked his supporters to demonstrate Friday.
But it is unclear whether anyone will heed calls to head to the streets with the increased security presence.
On Tuesday, despite being the first day of school after the holidays, children were nowhere to be seen during morning rush hour in Caracas, and some schools remained closed.
鈥淭here is tension. As soon as night falls, the city is like a ghost town," Caracas resident Mari Jimenez said. 鈥淲e do not feel confident seeing so many police.鈥
