Venezuelan opposition leader urges supporters to demonstrate to force Maduro to leave office

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has urged supporters to demonstrate across the country, telling them in a video message that President Nicolás Maduro will not step down on his own and they “must make him leave.” Machado on Sunday instructed supporters to demonstrate Thursday, the day before Venezuela’s next presidential term is set to begin. Her message came hours after the government again made clear its intention to arrest retired diplomat Edmundo González, who claims to have defeated Maduro in last year’s election. González left Venezuela for exile in Spain in September after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.