Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gives a speech during an Anti-government protest on Jan. 9, 2025 in Caracas, Venezuela.
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As Venezuela grapples with widespread turmoil, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition figure María Corina Machado has called for the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro, whom she accuses of fraudulent practices. Speaking to NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday, Machado emphasized the precarious state Venezuela finds itself in and the urgency of regime change.
While remaining concealed within the nation, Machado criticized Maduro’s leadership, asserting that he manipulated the electoral process to secure a third presidential term. “I want to be very clear with this: Regime change was already mandated by the Venezuelan people on July 28, 2024,” she stated, referring to last year’s contentious election.
Contrary to the government’s narrative, Machado argues that Venezuela is already mired in chaos. “The narrative of the regime right now is that if Maduro goes, chaos will come to Venezuela. That’s absolutely false,” she mentioned in her interview.
Machado, who was barred from the presidential race, supported opposition candidate Edmundo González in tackling the nation’s ongoing crises that have compelled over 20% of its population to flee.
Having been a vocal critic of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela since its inception, Machado has faced numerous threats, including assassination attempts and legal actions. “We won by a landslide in the presidential election, and we proved it with over 85% of the original tally sheets,” she claimed, emphasizing that international acknowledgment of the election discrepancies exists.
The U.S., along with several Latin American nations, has condemned Maduro for tampering with electoral systems, leading to widespread corruption and economic downturn.
In the international arena, the Trump administration has labeled Maduro as the leader of a drug cartel, offering a reward of up to $50 million for information leading to his arrest. Machado echoed these allegations, highlighting the destabilizing effect the alleged cartel has on regional and U.S. institutions.
Machado sidestepped questions on whether she would endorse U.S. military intervention, but she acknowledged Trump’s role in understanding the threat posed by Maduro. “You cannot have peace without freedom, and you cannot have freedom without strength,” Machado remarked.
Despite the challenges, Machado remains steadfast in her dedication to Venezuela’s future, dedicating her Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump and the Venezuelan people, hoping it would encourage further action against Maduro. She aspires that this change might inspire similar shifts in Cuba and Nicaragua.
