Venezuelan Opposition Leader Says Son-In-Law Has Been Kidnapped

Self-exiled Edmundo González said Rafael Tudares was kidnapped while taking González’s two grandchildren to school in Caracas.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Self-exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González, who claims to have defeated President Nicolás Maduro in last year’s presidential election, said his son-in-law was kidnapped Tuesday in Venezuela’s capital.

González, who was traveling in the United States, said Rafael Tudares was kidnapped while on his way to drop off González’s two grandchildren at school in Caracas.

In a post on X, González said “hooded men, dressed in black” intercepted the vehicle and loaded Tudares “into a gold-colored van.”

He did not say what happened to his 6- and 7-year-old grandchildren.

The kidnapping happened despite a significant increase in police and military presence since New Year’s Day across Caracas ahead of Friday’s swearing-in ceremony for Maduro, who the government says won a third term in the July election.