CARACAS. Venezuela (AP) 鈥� Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonz谩lez, who claims to have defeated President Nicol谩s Maduro in last year鈥檚 presidential election, said Tuesday that his son-in-law was kidnapped in Venezuela's capital.
Gonz谩lez said his son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, was kidnapped Tuesday morning while on his way to drop off Gonz谩lez's two grandchildren at a school in Caracas. In a post on X, Gonz谩lez said 鈥渉ooded men, dressed in black鈥� intercepted the vehicle and loaded Tudares 鈥渋nto a gold-colored van.鈥�
Gonz谩lez did not provide additional details, including the conditions of his 6- and 7-year-old grandchildren.
The government鈥檚 centralized press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
The kidnapping comes as tensions heighten across Venezuela ahead of Friday, when the next presidential term is set to begin.
Gonz谩lez, a retired diplomat, represented Venezuela鈥檚 main opposition coalition in the July presidential election, which he and Maduro both claim to have won.
Gonz谩lez is the midst of a tour of the Americas to try to rally support for his effort to unseat Maduro. He met with U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday at the White House.
Regina Garcia Cano, The Associated Press
