The son of outed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has vowed that Venezuela will remain united despite the capture of his father and the president’s wife by United States forces earlier this month.
“Venezuela is a peaceful country that does not stop. We continue to advance economically, socially and politically, with faith that, sooner rather than later, we will have them back in the name of God,” Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, a 35-year-old Venezuelan lawmaker, said yesterday.
He made the comments during a virtual meeting with social and political groups across the region and internationally, who support the return of the ousted president and his wife, Cilia Flores, to Venezuela.
On January 3, the United States launched a military operation in Venezuela, including air strikes and special forces actions, in which President Maduro and Flores were taken into US custody and to New York to face federal charges.
In the virtual meeting, Maduro Guerra launched the international “Bring Them Back!” campaign, which aims to build a global movement demanding the release of Maduro and Flores. As part of the initiative, real-time counters will be installed at Venezuelan embassies and consulates worldwide to track the days, hours and minutes since the couple’s capture, starting at 2 am on January 3.
The Venezuelan Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago provided a link to Maduro Guerra’s speech, which he delivered live from Caracas.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, speaking at the country’s Annual National Address yesterday, pledged to do everything possible to ensure that Maduro and his wife are returned safely to Venezuela so he can resume his duties as president.
Before Rodríguez’s address, a group of government supporters gathered at the presidential palace in Caracas, chanting in support of Maduro, whom the government continues to recognise as Venezuela’s legitimate president.
“Maduro, resist, the people are rising,” the group shouted.
