Opposition leader María Corina Machado stressed that “things in Venezuela are moving quickly,” but a first step is to “finish dismantling the repression, stop the revolving door” and restore fundamental rights and guarantees for society.
The opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, María Corina Machado, assured this Friday the 16th that Delcy Rodríguez “is only following orders” from the United States in a “very complex process” towards a democratic transition in Venezuela that, she has said, is promoted by more than 90% of society.
«Mrs. Delcy Rodríguez at this moment is following orders, she is not in a motu agreement, she is not comfortable. He is following orders because in the end if January 3 demonstrated anything, it is that there had to be a real threat, there had to be real force. The cost of staying in power had to be higher than the cost of leaving for there to be this change of attitude in the regime,” Machado said from Washington DC.
In one news conference From Washington DC, one day after holding a meeting with President Donald Trump, the opposition leader relaxed about the expectations of the Venezuelan people, the role that the United States plays after the attacks of January 3 and the figure of Delcy Rodríguez, among other topics.
Machado described Rodríguez as an “ideologically communist”, an ally of regimes such as Russia and China and in control of the “repressive apparatus” that, he noted, keeps the Chavista administration in power, although not of the National Armed Forces.
She stated that under the position of vice president she was in charge of “setting up” the “repression structure” through the Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (Dgcim), Casa Militar and other organizations. He also located it as “part of the design to bypass US sanctions, US justice, and make financial transactions with enemy regimes of the United States.”
*Read also: Delcy Rodríguez met in Caracas with the director of the CIA to improve “cooperation”
When asked about Rodríguez’s meeting with the CIA director, she said that “I was not going to speculate.” However, he noted that “if the United States obtains the information it needs from this lady, I believe that this is the type of cooperation that we expect and that suits us, without a doubt.”
“Without a doubt he must have information of very high value to the director of the CIA,” he asserted.
The opposition leader stressed that “things in Venezuela are moving quickly,” but a first step is to “finish dismantling the repression, stop the revolving door” and restore fundamental guarantees and rights for society.
«Once we eliminate the repression factor in Venezuela, how long does the regime last? The only thing they have left is terror… There are some things that Delcy Rodríguez will be able to deliver by force, because she is terrified of President Trump, but there are things that she will never be able to deliver,” said Machado, such as security, stability or democracy.
“This is not sustainable and she knows it,” he insisted.
Machado and the role in the transition
The Nobel Peace Prize winner said she was “deeply certain” that the country will have “an orderly transition” that she hopes will be carried out “in an orderly manner as quickly as possible.”
This with the objective of “advancing the re-institutionalization of the country and free and democratic elections, which include mayors, governors, the National Assembly… where every Venezuelan inside or outside the country has the opportunity to vote.”
«It is a complex phase that we currently face. “They are doing the dirty work, by the way,” in reference to figures from the ruling party who continue to serve.
From his point of view, Venezuelan society did “everything that corresponded to us,” but the “real strength” that the United States could provide as an ally was needed. For now, he listed, “it is being fulfilled in the dismantling of the other sector, that exists. What is missing here? “The people, the people of Venezuela and that is what we represent: the legitimacy and guarantee of a transition.”
Regarding the situation of the release of political prisoners, he said that President Trump is aware of the situation. He stressed that the fact that these people “are not in prison does not mean that they are free. He has no right to speak to the press, they cannot leave the country. All torture centers must be closed, freedom of expression guaranteed.
Likewise, he said that there are “a greater number of political prisoners than we think,” because “many families were afraid and were threatened by the regime, they were never registered until now.”
Meeting with Trump
The opposition leader was more cautious regarding the meeting she held with President Donald Trump at the White House a day earlier. He indicated that the details of his conversation will not be made public, “that is why it was private,” but his role was in “representing the people of Venezuela who elected Edmundo González as president-elect.”
He said that the conversation was spoken with respect, but crudely, while reiterating that President Donald Trump is “aware” and “is concerned” about the situation of Venezuelans.
«I came away really convinced that what we need is in the White House and will serve as an example for those global leaders who have not had the courage to call a spade a spade. Because everyone knows it, there are the reports from the Fact-Finding Mission,” said Machado, pointing out the crimes against humanity and the involvement of figures such as Nicolás Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez, Diosdado Cabello, Vladimir Padrino López and other pro-government actors.
“There are no excuses to ignore state terrorism beyond corruption, drug trafficking, arms trafficking and other crimes that continue to be committed in Venezuela,” he stressed.
In addition, Machado said that at the meeting he expressed his desire to return to the country. «Of course I insisted on my desire to return to Venezuela as soon as possible, and of course I am going to do so. “We talked about it.”
*Journalism in Venezuela is carried out in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments in place to punish the word, especially the laws “against hate”, “against fascism” and “against the blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
Post Views: 178
