Venezuelan Opposition Leader Expresses Intent to Negotiate with Interim President

SadaNews - Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado stated late Thursday to Friday that she is determined to negotiate a democratic transition of power with interim President Delcy Rodriguez following the ousting of Nicolas Maduro in January.

The opposition, led by Machado, affirms the victory of their candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia in the controversial 2024 elections, in which Maduro declared his win.

In a statement, Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, called on the United States to support "serious, firm, and responsible political negotiations with the transitional regime to restore democracy in Venezuela."

She added that "the main goal of these negotiations is to be able to hold free, transparent, and sovereign presidential elections."

Machado expressed confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump's plans for Venezuela after his administration authorized an attack on Caracas in January to capture Maduro.

She stated on Saturday that she would run in the upcoming elections, although no date for the election has been set yet.

During a visit to Panama to meet with members of the Venezuelan community there, she said, "I will run for office."

Trump hinted that new elections would take place after U.S. forces captured Maduro on January 3, but no specific date for the ballot has yet been announced.

Since then, Maduro's former deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, has been serving as interim president of the country.

The Venezuelan government considers the exiled Machado a fugitive and accuses her of calling for military intervention against the country.