UPDATE: Venezuela’s main opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, has boldly declared her intent to return to Venezuela soon, aiming to galvanize support against President Nicolas Maduro. Machado praised US President Donald Trump for his role in challenging Maduro’s regime, stating her movement is prepared to secure victory in a fair election.
“I’m planning to go back to Venezuela as soon as possible,” said Machado, 58, who fled the country in October under disguise to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, which she dedicated to Trump. Speaking in an interview with Fox News late Monday, she emphasized, “We believe that this transition should move forward.”
Machado asserted that her coalition won the 2024 election by a landslide despite fraudulent conditions, claiming, “In free and fair elections, we will win over 90 percent of the votes.” This urgent proclamation comes just days after Maduro was captured by US forces, raising the stakes in Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis.
However, Machado’s plans to return remain uncertain as she is wanted for arrest in Venezuela, where Maduro’s Socialist Party still holds power. She refrained from giving specific details about her repatriation, heightening the urgency of her statements amid the backdrop of political unrest.
“January 3rd will go down in history as the day justice defeated a tyranny,” Machado stated, expressing her admiration for Trump and vowing to personally award him the Nobel Prize for his support.
Trump has previously urged that addressing Venezuela’s issues is critical before any new elections can occur, calling a 30-day timeline for a vote unrealistic. “We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election,” he told NBC, highlighting the challenges facing both the opposition and Maduro’s government.
Despite criticism from opposition activists and the Venezuelan diaspora, which has seen one in five citizens flee during the ongoing economic crisis, Trump has yet to show strong support for Machado. International observers have indicated that the opposition was deprived of victory in the 2024 election, further complicating the political landscape.
In a stark contrast, the US administration seems to be leaning toward cooperating with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, a Maduro ally. Rodriguez has condemned Maduro’s capture while advocating for collaboration with Washington, complicating Machado’s position.
Machado labeled Rodriguez a “corrupt narco-trafficker” allied with China, Russia, and Iran, asserting she cannot be trusted to stabilize Venezuela’s economy. “With the largest oil reserves in the world and the US as its main ally, Venezuela would become the energy hub of the Americas,” Machado promised, pledging to restore the rule of law and welcome exiles back home.
As of now, Maduro, 63, has pleaded not guilty to narcotics charges in a Manhattan court and continues to assert his presidency despite international pressure. His wife, Cilia Flores, also captured, has pleaded innocent. They are scheduled to appear in court again on March 17, 2024.
The situation remains fluid, as the US intervention in Venezuela has drawn condemnation from countries including Russia and China, with legal experts questioning the legitimacy of the actions taken against Maduro. The political future of Venezuela hangs in the balance as Machado prepares for her next steps.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on this developing story as the situation unfolds and the opposition gears up for a potential return to power.
