Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado held a rally at Puerta del Sol square in Madrid on Saturday to revive her push for political change after being sidelined following President Nicolas Maduro's capture. The event drew tens of thousands of protesters, as reported by multiple outlets.
Key Takeaways
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado held a rally in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square to revive her push for political change after being sidelined following President Nicolas Maduro's capture. Tens of thousands attended, but she faces challenges from Donald Trump's backing of Delcy Rodriguez as interim leader.
- Machado declined a meeting with Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez, citing his progressive summit in Barcelona
- She criticized Rodriguez’s government, calling it 'chaos, violence and terror'
- Machado praised Trump for ousting Maduro and trusted Washington’s phased process in Venezuela
- Some 600,000 Venezuelans live in Spain, many fleeing political persecution and economic collapse
- Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize but was barred from Venezuela's presidential race
Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, has been unable to return to Venezuela and faces challenges from Donald Trump's backing of Delcy Rodriguez as interim leader in exchange for concessions involving Venezuela's vast oil and mineral resources. She declined a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, citing his hosting of a progressive leaders' summit in Barcelona as proof the meeting was 'not advisable.' According to The Guardian and Reuters, Sanchez said he was nonetheless happy to meet with Machado whenever she wanted.
Machado criticized Rodriguez’s government, saying it represented 'chaos, violence and terror,' and reiterated her belief in the need for democratic elections in Venezuela. She praised Trump for ousting Maduro and trusted Washington’s phased process since his removal. Some 600,000 Venezuelans live in Spain, many fleeing political persecution and economic collapse.
Machado's supporters had hoped she would take power after US troops captured Maduro on January 3rd. However, Trump backed Rodriguez, consolidating her power by purging key Maduro allies from government and attempting to portray herself as a competent technocrat capable of reviving the moribund economy.
Machado has met with world leaders including Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. Members of Machado's movement have grown increasingly frustrated at being frozen out of their country's political future. She presented her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump earlier this year and expressed no regret in doing so.
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