Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has said her coalition should absolutely be in charge of the country, following the US ousting of President Nicolás Maduro last week.
We are ready and willing to serve our people as we have been mandated, Machado said in an interview with the BBC's US partner CBS.
She thanked US President Donald Trump for his leadership and courage after US forces stormed Caracas and arrested Maduro, but expressed skepticism about the new interim leader appointed by Maduro's allies, who he described as untrustworthy.
Despite being backed by the US in her claims of victory in the heavily disputed 2024 elections, Trump has not supported her, citing a lack of popular support.
Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize last year, praised the US military's actions as a crucial step toward restoring democracy and prosperity in Venezuela. She claimed that while she appreciates Trump's assistance in removing Maduro, he has dismissed her viability to lead the country due to a perceived lack of credibility.
President Trump's leadership and courage has brought Nicolás Maduro to face justice and this is huge, Machado remarked, despite Trump's statements questioning her respect and support within the country.
Currently hiding due to her prior ban on running in Venezuela's elections, Machado has proposed Edmundo González from the opposition to assume power, claiming he won decisively against Maduro, despite official government announcements declaring Maduro as the president.
David Smolansky, a spokesperson for the opposition, voiced that for Venezuela's future to be stable, having both Machado and González in power is essential.
Despite Machado's calls for respect and recognition, she has criticized the new interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, known for her close ties to Maduro's regime, creating additional tension in a transitional government.
