Paris [France], January 4: Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado has called on global democratic leaders to support the immediate release of political prisoners in Venezuela, expressing gratitude to French President Emmanuel Macron for his backing.
In a post on X, Machado described the freedom of political detainees as an urgent priority and appealed for international solidarity at what she called a critical moment for her country. “Thank you very much, President Macron. The freedom of ALL political prisoners is our immediate priority. I ask the heads of State and Government and all the democrats of the world to support us in this decisive hour. Venezuela will be free,” she wrote.
Her remarks followed Macron’s public support for her appeal. The French President confirmed that he had spoken with Machado and expressed full backing for her call. “I just spoke with @MariaCorinaYA. I fully support her call for the liberation and the protection of the political prisoners of Nicolas Maduro’s regime,” Macron posted on X.
Macron also emphasized France’s support for a democratic transition in Venezuela, aligning with Machado’s request for international engagement. “Like all Venezuelans, she can count on France’s support to raise her voice in favor of a peaceful, democratic transition that fully respects the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people,” he added.
These statements come amid dramatic developments following the removal of Nicolas Maduro. Video released by US authorities showed the deposed Venezuelan leader in handcuffs during a staged perp walk, wishing reporters and Drug Enforcement Administration agents “Happy New Year” and “Good Night” as he was led into custody.
Following Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the powers and duties of acting president, CNN reported. The order, announced late Saturday local time, concluded that Maduro was in a “material and temporary impossibility to exercise his functions.” According to the ruling read by Justice Tania D’Amelio during a session broadcast on state television channel VTV, Rodriguez will “assume and exercise, as acting president, all the powers, duties, and faculties inherent to the office of president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation,” CNN reported. Venezuela’s constitution stipulates that when the president is temporarily or absolutely absent, the vice president must replace them.
Providing context, former US National Security Advisor John Bolton told CNN that a plan to remove Maduro had been presented to US President Donald Trump during his first term but did not advance because officials were unable to keep the president “focused” on the issue. Bolton noted that Trump had been “very interested in the Venezuelan oil” at the time, but despite efforts by his team, they “couldn’t keep him focused on it.” He added that the Venezuelan opposition then believed sustained economic pressure would be sufficient to fracture Maduro’s regime.
The United States later launched what Trump described as a “large-scale strike against Venezuela,” capturing Maduro to face charges and carrying out the regime change effort without congressional approval. (ANI)
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