Arrests of opponents mark the campaign a few days before the elections

The arrests of dozens of opponents mark the campaign in Venezuela, where the authorities have also acted with sanctions such as closures of businesses that served opposition leaders during the political tour of the country, or retention of work equipment such as motorcycles, small boats or sound equipment, among others.

The sanctions are based on alleged irregularities in records or delays in tax payments, all coinciding with those businesses or people who provided service to the candidate of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), Edmundo González Urrutia, or to his greatest supporter, the leader María Corina Machado.

This Monday, non-governmental organizations and members of the PUD warned about the increase in political “persecution” in the country, for which they blame the Government, while Chavismo insists, among insults, in foisting alleged violent plans on its adversaries.

The campaign, which began on July 4 and will end 3 days before the vote, has left 71 people “arbitrarily” detained, all linked to the candidacy of González Urrutia, according to a preliminary report by the NGO Peace Laboratory.

In the last 48 hours alone, the opposition and the Foro Penal, the organization that leads the defense of those considered political prisoners in the country, confirmed 11 arrests, including the singer Wily Álvarez, who composed a campaign song for the opposition leader María Corina Machado and González Urrutia.