Venezuela opens treason inquiry against opposition leader

Venezuela prosecutors opened a treason investigation into opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a statement said, accusing her of supporting US sanctions targeting President Nicolas Maduro after his contested July re-election.

In a statement, the prosecutor's office said it has opened the inquiry because Ms Machado's support for tougher US measures constitutes "treason to the homeland, according to article 128 of the penal code, (and) conspiracy with foreign countries."

The office said it is "fighting against any person, group, or national or international entity that threatens the stability of the country."

On Monday, the US House of Representatives passed the BOLIVAR Act, a bipartisan bill which bars US federal agencies from conducting business with the Maduro regime or its associates. It still needs passage by the Senate and President Joe Biden's signature for it to become law.

Venezuela reacted angrily to the House action, saying the bill would violate the UN Charter.

During Donald Trump's first term as US president, from 2017 to 2021, he imposed a policy of maximum pressure - including tightening financial sanctions and instituting an oil embargo - in an unsuccessful effort to oust Mr Maduro from power.

The measures were later softened by President Joe Biden, whose administration nonetheless refused to recognise Mr Maduro's claim to have won a third term in July 2024 elections, which were again marked by allegations of fraud.

Mr Maduro claimed victory and defied domestic and international calls to release detailed polling numbers to back up the assertion that he won.

The opposition claimed that its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who had been swiftly picked to run in Ms Machado's place after she was declared ineligible, won with over 67% of the vote.

Amid an outcry at home and abroad, the former bus driver Mr Maduro, handpicked by the late Hugo Chavez, is now serving his third term in the oil-rich country whose economy is in shambles, as Venezuelans endure acute shortages of food, medicine and other basic goods.

Mr Maduro is accused of leading a harshly repressive leftist regime, with a systematic crackdown on the opposition.

Since the election, Mr Gonzalez Urrutia has fled to Spain due to an outstanding arrest warrant, while Ms Machado has gone into hiding.

The United States has not recognised Mr Maduro's victory and said for the first time this week it recognises Mr Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuela's president-elect.