01/29/2026, 07:4201/29/2026, 07:42
Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado sharply criticized the US-backed new leadership in Venezuela after a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, with whom the government works in Washington, is not trustworthy, Machado told reporters in Washington.
María Corina Machado criticizes the US-backed new leadership in Venezuela. Image: EPA
“Everyone knows what this regime is about. We’re talking about criminals here.”
When asked by a journalist whether she would be willing to share power with Rodríguez in an interim government, Machado replied: “We are working to make a real transition possible. This is not a Russian-style transition where the mafia stays in power and citizens ultimately suffer.” She will continue to campaign for real change – and not for part of the ruling apparatus to remain in power.
Rodríguez came to power as a result of the US military intervention in Venezuela. She had previously been deputy to the authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro, who was captured during a US military operation in the capital Caracas on January 3rd and then taken to New York. He is to be tried there for alleged involvement in drug crimes.
Delcy Rodríguez is President of Venezuela.Image: EPA EFE
Since the change of power, the South American country has been in a phase of political upheaval. Rodríguez is apparently the person within the Venezuelan government with whom the US government is negotiating directly – especially over the management of the South American country’s vast oil reserves. (sda/dpa)