Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado Asserts Readiness to Lead Amid Political Turmoil

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has declared her readiness to lead the nation, emphasizing her movement's mandate and preparedness for free elections.

In a recent interview, Machado stated, "We believe that this transition should move forward. We won an election [in 2024] by a landslide under fraudulent conditions. In free and fair elections, we will win over 90% of the votes."

Her remarks follow the U.S. military's capture of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, leading to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assuming the role of interim president.

Machado criticized Rodríguez's leadership, accusing her of being "one of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, narco-trafficking" in Venezuela.

During her visit to Washington, Machado met with U.S. senators, where her remarks were met with chants of "María, presidente" from supporters waving Venezuelan flags.

Meanwhile, Rodríguez held a two-hour meeting with CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Caracas, aiming to build trust and communication between the two countries. A U.S. official stated that Ratcliffe discussed potential opportunities for economic collaboration and emphasized that Venezuela can no longer be a safe haven for America's adversaries.

Rodríguez also announced oil industry reforms to allow more foreign investment, marking a departure from Maduro's policies. President Trump described Rodríguez as a "terrific person" following their phone conversation, which Rodríguez called "productive and courteous."