247 - Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado stated that Nicolás Maduro will leave power"with or without negotiation." The statement came amid a growing political and military crisis in Venezuela. In an interview with AFP, according to the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo, she stated that Maduro's departure is inevitable and accused the government of being supported by"external forces," such as Cubans, Russians, Iranians, as well as groups like Hezbollah and the FARC guerrillas.

Political crisis and military pressure

María Corina's statement comes as the United States has sent warships to the Caribbean, a move Maduro has described as"harassment." Washington, for its part, justified the operation as part of the fight against drug trafficking, accusing the Venezuelan president of leading an international drug cartel.

Commenting on the US military presence, the opposition member was categorical:"The invasion that exists here is by the Cubans, the Russians, the Iranians, Hezbollah, Hamas, the drug cartels, and the FARC guerrillas. This is the invasion that is taking place in Venezuela."

“With negotiation or without negotiation”

Machado reinforced that the only way forward for the country is to dismantle these structures: "What we are asking is that these structures that plundered the country and left this trail of death and pain be dismantled, and Maduro now has the opportunity to advance a peaceful transition. With negotiations, without negotiations, he will leave power."

The leader also accused Maduro of being the true culprit behind an internal war."It was Nicolás Maduro who declared war on the Venezuelans. He's the one who implements state terrorism internally and narcoterrorism externally," she said, in a tone similar to that adopted by the United States government to justify military actions on the Venezuelan coast.

Electoral fraud and consequences

María Corina reiterated that the 2024 presidential elections were rigged and that the true winner was opposition leader Edmundo González. She said the opposition is willing to offer guarantees to the regime, but warned that if Maduro uses force, the consequences"will be his direct responsibility, no one else's."

When asked what kind of consequences these would be, she avoided detailing what might happen."I'm not going to speculate on that. We Venezuelans don't have firearms, we have the right to speak, we have citizen organization, we have pressure, we have denunciation."

Nobel Peace Prize dedicated to the Venezuelan people and Donald Trump

After receiving the news of winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Machado declared that he dedicated the honor to the people of Venezuela and also to US President Donald Trump."There is a general consensus among Venezuelans to recognize President Trump, which we consider fair and necessary. It's to convey to him how much Venezuela needs his leadership and the international coalition that has formed (...) that are cutting off the sources of criminal financing, which are sustaining this regime," he said.