Emill Brandt, María Corina Machado’s campaign director, arrested in Venezuela

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The Venezuelan political landscape has taken a tumultuous turn with the recent detention of Emill Brandt Ulloa, director of the campaign command of presidential candidate María Corina Machado in Barinas. Brandt, who also serves as the state coordinator of Machado’s party, Vente Venezuela, was apprehended by members of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin) on Friday night.

According to reports, Brandt was captured by a Sebin commando while hiding in a mechanical workshop in the El Cambio neighborhood of the city of Barinas. A search and arrest warrant had been issued against him, as reported by the Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional.

Following Brandt’s detention, María Corina Machado took to social media to denounce the Maduro regime for what she described as the kidnapping of her campaign director. She also highlighted the continued detention of other campaign directors from various states, who are currently imprisoned in the Sebin headquarters in Caracas, known as Helicoide.

In a series of tweets, Machado emphasized the Maduro regime’s disregard for the Barbados Agreement and urged national and international actors to support fair presidential elections in Venezuela. She vowed to continue building strength and citizen organization to secure electoral victory this year.

Meanwhile, with Venezuela’s elections scheduled for July, President Maduro appears to have the upper hand as the sole candidate in the race. The government’s decision to prevent opposition leader María Corina Machado from running has narrowed the field, leaving Maduro with a clear path to reelection.

Despite facing administrative obstacles and legal challenges, Machado remains committed to her presidential aspirations and has vowed to stay in the race until the end. The ruling party is expected to officially nominate Maduro as its candidate next week, solidifying his position as the frontrunner in the upcoming elections.

As the political tension continues to escalate in Venezuela, the fate of the country’s leadership remains uncertain. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.