By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Venezuela Opposition Leader Vows Return, Calls for Free Elections
Venezuela’s main opposition leader, María Corina Machado, has vowed to return to her homeland as soon as possible, declaring that her movement is prepared to win a free and fair election following the removal of President Nicolás Maduro.
Machado, 58, an industrial engineer and mother of three, escaped Venezuela in disguise in October. She has since praised Donald Trump for what she described as ending Maduro’s rule, stating that Venezuela now has an opportunity for democratic renewal.
However, uncertainty continues to grip the country, as the Trump administration appears willing, at least temporarily, to work with Interim President Delcy Rodríguez and other senior figures from the former government. This approach has disappointed sections of the opposition and contributed to political unease.
Machado said she has not spoken with Trump since October, when she received the Nobel Peace Prize, which she dedicated to him. Trump has stated that Venezuela’s problems must first be addressed before elections can be held, dismissing calls for a vote within 30 days as unrealistic.
Opposition groups, international observers, and several U.S. allies maintain that the opposition was denied victory in the 2024 elections. Machado herself was barred from contesting, with an ally standing in her place. Trump, however, has questioned the depth of her domestic support.
U.S. Warns Venezuelan Security Chief Amid Transition
In a related development, U.S. officials have reportedly placed Venezuela’s powerful interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, under close scrutiny, warning that he could become a primary target if he obstructs the transition process.
Cabello, who controls security forces accused of widespread human rights abuses, is said to be among a small group of former Maduro loyalists temporarily relied upon to maintain order during the post-Maduro transition. U.S. officials are reportedly concerned that internal rivalries, particularly between Cabello and Interim President Rodríguez, could destabilise the country.
According to sources familiar with the situation, intermediaries have conveyed to Cabello that defiance could expose him to severe consequences, including prosecution or exile, similar to the fate of Maduro, who was captured during a U.S. operation and transferred to New York to face charges related to narco-terrorism.
Brazil Court Denies Bolsonaro Hospital Request
In Brazil, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has denied a request by former President Jair Bolsonaro to be immediately transferred from prison to a hospital after reportedly falling and hitting his head.
Bolsonaro’s wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, said the 70-year-old former leader fell while sleeping and struck his head on a piece of furniture. However, Brazil’s Federal Police confirmed that Bolsonaro received medical attention and sustained only minor injuries, with no immediate need for hospitalisation.
Justice Moraes ruled that any hospital visit must be approved by the court and noted that Bolsonaro’s legal team may request medical examinations, provided they submit advance details and justification. The court has also asked the defence to specify which tests are being sought to determine whether they can be conducted within the prison system.
Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted of plotting a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. He has a history of medical complications stemming from a stabbing during a 2018 campaign event and underwent surgery in December for a hernia and chronic hiccups.
