And Maduro
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Washington – Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado appears to be open to U.S. military action in her country to help oust President Nicolás Maduro.
“I will welcome more and more pressure so that Maduro understands that he has to go, that his time is over,” the Nobel Peace Prize winner said in an interview Friday with “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” “I will insist on something that I’ve said several times before, this is not conventional regime change. This cannot be compared to other cases, like countries in the Middle East.”
“We had an election,” she continued. “Regime change was already mandated by over 70% of the population, and what we need is support to enforce that decision.”
When Machado was asked how she squares military action with receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Machado said “to maintain freedom and to achieve freedom, you do need strength.”
“What we’re fighting for is precisely freedom in order to have democracy, and democracy in order to have peace,” she said.
Maduro is facing increasing pressure from the Trump administration to relinquish his power. President Trump has threatened land strikes as the U.S. has built up its military forces in the region and has conducted more than 20 strikes on suspected drug smugglers.
Background: The Venezuelan Political Crisis
The political crisis in Venezuela has been ongoing for years, stemming from economic mismanagement, corruption, and authoritarian rule under Hugo Chávez and subsequently Nicolás Maduro. The country has experienced hyperinflation, shortages of basic goods, and a mass exodus of its population. The opposition has repeatedly accused Maduro of rigging elections and suppressing dissent.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Nicolás Maduro assumes presidency after Hugo Chávez’s death. |
| 2016 | Opposition gains control of the National Assembly. |
| 2017 | Constituent Assembly established by Maduro,bypassing the National Assembly. |
| 2019 | Juan Guaidó declares himself interim president, recognized by many countries. |
| 2024 | María Corina Machado expresses openness to U.S. military intervention. |
Who is María Corina Machado?
María Corina Machado is a Venezuelan politician and industrial engineer. She has been a vocal critic of the Maduro government and a leading figure in the opposition movement. She was elected to the National Assembly in 2010