Venezuela Orders Arrest of Machado’s Campaign Manager, Top Aides
- Campaign manager speculated to be possible Machado replacement
- Arrest orders come amid government crackdown on dissent
Venezuela’s government ordered the arrest of nine top aides to opposition leader María Corina Machado on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in a plot to destabilize Nicolás Maduro’s government.
Public Prosecutor Tarek William Saab ordered the arrest of Machado’s campaign manager, Magalli Meda, as well as top aides Pedro Urruchurtu, Claudia Macero, Henry Alviarez, Dignora Hernandez and four others. Meda was rumored to replace Machado in upcoming presidential elections since the opposition primary winner has been banned from participating by Maduro’s government.