US,Dec 05 : The son of Venezuela’s former leader Nicolás Maduro has warned of betrayal from within the ruling camp, hours after a US-led operation resulted in the arrest of his father and the country’s first lady, Cilia Flores, and their transfer to the United States.
In an audio message circulated online, Nicolás Maduro Guerra said history would eventually expose those responsible, in remarks widely interpreted as pointing to possible internal dissent within Chavismo, the political movement built around his father.
“History will tell who the traitors were. History will reveal it,” he said.
Call for unity and mobilisation
Maduro Guerra, a lawmaker from La Guaira state and a senior figure in the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), urged party members and supporters to remain united, insisting the movement would not fracture despite what he described as an external attack.
He called on party workers and supporters to mobilise on January 4 and 5, stressing the need to regroup politically and maintain morale. He also spoke of the importance of closer political and military coordination to counter what he termed “external aggression”.
In the audio message, Maduro Guerra confirmed that Nicolás Maduro is currently in US custody. His remarks alternated between defiance and emotion as he accused opponents of seeking to weaken the movement.
“They want to see us weak,” he said, adding that supporters would continue to take to the streets despite anger and pain.
“We are fine, we are calm. You will see us in the streets… They want to see us weak; we are going to raise the banners of dignity,” he said, according to El-Cooperante.
US court appearance expected
Meanwhile, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores remain detained in the United States and are expected to make their first appearance before a federal court in New York on Monday.
According to CBS News, US authorities said the couple will be produced before a judge in the Southern District of New York at noon local time. They face charges including alleged narco-terrorism and conspiracy to traffic drugs.
Washington has described the operation as a large-scale action involving US intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Officials said the couple were detained in Caracas, transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, and later flown to New York, where they arrived on Saturday to face criminal proceedings.