Merchants from Portuguesa reported threats of closure of businesses that support María Corina Machado

• The political organization Vente Venezuela demanded the cessation of harassment of civil society in the context of the electoral campaign

Vente Venezuela shared the complaint of merchants in the state of Portuguesa regarding threats of closure of businesses that support the visit of opposition leader María Corina Machado on Wednesday, July 17 in the state.

“Merchants in Portuguesa report that they found flyers with threats, warning regarding the closure of their businesses for supporting the leader of Vente Venezuela, María Corina Machado, who is visiting the state this Wednesday,” wrote the party’s human rights office in X.

The publication is accompanied by a photo of one of the flyers. The print warns: “Alert merchants. If you support María Corina your businesses will be closed.” It also ends with the phrase “Bolivarian Fury.”

Photo: Vente Venezuela

The political organization demanded an end to harassment and persecution of civil society in the context of the electoral campaign in Venezuela.

Thinking differently and supporting any candidate or political leader should not be considered a crime,” he added in another post.

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Machado has traveled to several states in the country promoting the campaign of Edmundo González Urrutia, official candidate of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD).

Persecution and arrests

The non-governmental organization (NGO) Criminal Forum rejects arbitrary arrests that have occurred in the context of the campaign for the presidential elections of July 28.

Foro Penal recorded more than 100 arrests of people related to the Vente Venezuela party or activities in which Machado or González Urrutia participated.

This week, 11 people were arrested, which is a significant number and it seems that the arrests will continue,” said Alfredo Romero, president of the NGO, in a press conference held for the media on July 16.

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Hours following this press conference, specifically in the early hours of July 17, it was learned the arrest of Milciades Avila, Machado’s head of protection.

Photo: EFE

The opposition leader spoke out on social media to indicate that Ávila has been part of her team for 10 years. She added that he has accompanied her on tours in the interior of the country and said that he has risked his life to defend her. Machado warned of an escalation of repression once morest members linked to her political cause.

Ávila is reportedly being accused of gender violence for the events that took place on Saturday, July 13, when a group of government supporters approached a business in La Encrucijada, Aragua state, to insult Machado and the candidate Edmundo González Urrutia.

There have also been various reports of commercial premises being closed by the National Integrated Service for Customs and Tax Administration (Seniat) or other institutions, following visits by Machado during the electoral campaign.

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