María Corina Machado vows to return to Venezuela and rejects rule of Maduro ally

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has said she plans to return to Venezuela soon and does not recognize the authority of the interim president supported by the United States after Nicolás Maduro was removed from power.

Speaking to Fox News from a secret location, Machado said her political movement was prepared to win a free and fair election. She also praised former US president Donald Trump for his role in ending Maduro’s rule.

After Maduro was detained on Saturday, many people in Venezuela and abroad expected Machado to take over the leadership of the country. Instead, Trump chose to support Maduro’s former vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, leaving Machado sidelined.

“I’m planning to go back to Venezuela as soon as possible,” Machado said. “We believe this transition must move forward. We won the 2024 election by a landslide, even under fraudulent conditions. In a free and fair vote, we would win more than 90%.”

Machado strongly criticised Rodríguez, accusing her of involvement in torture, political persecution, corruption, and drug trafficking. She also said government repression had increased since the weekend.

The 58-year-old industrial engineer said she has not spoken to Trump since October 10th, the day it was announced that she had won the Nobel peace prize.