Venezuela Investigates González and Machado

Venezuela's Public Ministry has initiated a criminal investigation into presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia and opposition leader María Corina Machado, following their recent call for military and police support for the populace. Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced the inquiry, which stems from an open letter the two published on social media. The investigation centers on allegations that they falsely declared a winner of the recent presidential election, which was claimed by Nicolás Maduro, despite the electoral body not providing official vote tallies. The Public Ministry has accused González and Machado of several crimes, including usurpation of functions, dissemination of false information, incitement to disobey the law, and conspiracy. This comes after Machado asserted that González won the election by a significant margin, sharing purported results on social media. However, these claims have not been independently verified by CNN, and the opposition, along with various nations, has refused to recognize Maduro's victory until full election results are disclosed. The U.S. has expressed support for González, stating that it is evident Maduro lost the popular vote. In contrast, Maduro's government has accused the U.S. of attempting to orchestrate a coup, a claim it vehemently denies. The electoral process has been marred by allegations of misconduct, including the arrest of opposition figures and restrictions on their participation, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the elections. Venezuela, once a thriving economy, is now grappling with severe economic decline, chronic shortages, and rampant inflation, leading to a mass exodus of its citizens.