The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado called this Wednesday for a “real transition” in Venezuela, “after which no sector of the regime remains in power,” following her meeting in Washington with the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
In the video shared on the social networks of the opposition leader, she claims that they are living through "decisive hours and days" for the future of the country and stated that her movement has the support of the head of U.S. diplomacy.
Machado rejected the idea of a negotiated exit that would leave chavismo structures intact and, when asked if she would be willing to join a transitional government with interim president Delcy Rodríguez, responded that this is not a "transition" where "the mafias remain in power."
Regarding his meeting with Rubio, he noted that Rubio believes the Senate will take more than three and a half weeks to present the stabilization plans for Venezuela.
"She also stated that stabilization is not the same as transition. And that, of course, he understands, as I believe all the democrats in the world do, that the only way to achieve a stabilized process, a long-term process, in which we will have tremendous investments in Venezuela, with a long-term perspective, is to have democratic institutions back in place," he stated.
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One of the questions posed by the press was whether she would be willing to temporarily share power in a transitional body with Delcy Rodríguez if proposed by President Trump or Secretary Rubio.
"We are willing and in fact are working to facilitate a real transition. This is not about the mafias remaining in power while the citizens ultimately suffer," he argued.
"We will work as we have until now, ensuring that the institutions that guarantee justice, truth, sovereignty, and the reunion of Venezuelans are restored in Venezuela. Everything we can do to favor the transition, not the stability, of a sector of the regime in power," he continued.
Machado indicated that he expressed to Rubio his intention to return to Venezuela as soon as possible and that he is working to achieve it, although he did not rule out passing through other countries first because —he said— his plan changes constantly.
He emphasized that it's not just about his return, but also about "hundreds of leaders" forced to leave and "millions of Venezuelans" abroad who want to come back, which —he stated— requires security guarantees and conditions to "reestablish their lives, invest, and create opportunities."
Regarding the internal situation, he noted that “signs” of weakening in the repressive apparatus are beginning to emerge, although he admitted that “it is not enough.”
He added that, although more than 301 people have been released, over 700 remain detained, and new arrests have been reported this month.
Machado reacted to statements attributed to Colombian President Gustavo Petro regarding Nicolás Maduro being returned to Venezuela for trial there.
In his response, he questioned whether there are conditions of justice in the country and cited the case of Judge María Lourdes Afiuni, who is incarcerated —as he stated— after a ruling that went against the interests of the power.
"Here, there has not been a single ruling against the regime in favor of an individual," he added, defending the actions of international justice.
EFE reported that Rubio met with Machado after participating in a Senate hearing on Trump's policy towards Venezuela, where he indicated that the U.S. does not plan a military attack, although it "does not rule it out" if Delcy Rodríguez does not cooperate with Washington.
In that same vein, Rubio left open the possibility that Machado could participate in the transition process, but emphasized that "the control of the arms and the institutions lies with the regime."
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