María Corina Machado: “Maduro put the sash on his ankle like a shackle that tightens every day”

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado made her first public appearance after 133 days in hiding, denouncing Nicolás Maduro’s consolidation of a “coup d’état.” Speaking in Caracas, she highlighted the courage of Venezuelans who participated in over 180 protests across the country, defying the regime’s repression.

“Yesterday, Venezuela showed that fear has been defeated. That tricolor river we saw in the streets is the most powerful thing I have ever witnessed, and it fills me with pride,” Machado declared.

Venezolanos,

Hoy, el Bravo Pueblo demostró cómo se VENCE al miedo!

Nunca me he sentido tan orgullosa de ser venezolana.

Gracias, gracias, a todos los ciudadanos que salieron a las calles a reivindicar nuestra victoria del 28 de julio y a COBRARLA!

Mi corazón está con el…

— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) January 10, 2025

A Consolidated Coup

Machado accused Maduro of crossing a “red line” by swearing himself in as president before the National Assembly, an act she described as the officialization of the violation of the Venezuelan Constitution. She also pointed to the presence of Cuba’s and Nicaragua’s leaders as evidence of complicity among authoritarian regimes.

10 de enero de 2025

Haremos lo que sea necesario para restituir la Constitución.

VENEZUELA SERÁ LIBRE! pic.twitter.com/dDVy7IjfNB

— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) January 10, 2025

“Maduro didn’t wear the sash on his chest; he put it on his ankle, like a shackle that tightens more every day. Yesterday, it became clear that he cannot govern a Venezuela that has already decided to be free,” she stressed.

Edmundo González’s Safety

Machado also announced that due to the regime’s military deployment, the arrival of Edmundo González, the elected president recognized by several countries, to Venezuela has been postponed. According to the opposition leader, the priority is to safeguard González’s integrity to ensure a democratic transition.

“Edmundo will come to Venezuela at the right moment, when conditions are appropriate. Meanwhile, we will continue fighting to bring democracy back to the country,” she affirmed.

A Call for Resistance

Machado urged Venezuelans to keep up the pressure against the regime, despite the militarization and arrests reported in multiple states. Among those detained was Julio Balza, a journalist with the Command with Venezuela.

“Our country is more united than ever. Today, I call on every Venezuelan to exercise their right to protest with strength. The Constitution must be restored, and we will do whatever is necessary to achieve it,” she emphasized.

Her Abduction and Release

Machado also shared details about her detention, which occurred after participating in a massive rally in Caracas. According to her team, she was violently intercepted by regime agents who fired at the motorcycles she was traveling on. During her detention, Machado was forced to record several videos under duress.

“The regime tried to instill fear with my abduction, but it’s clear they failed. Venezuela will not surrender, and freedom is closer than ever,” Machado concluded.

The situation in Venezuela remains uncertain, with a mobilized society and a government relying on repression to maintain its grip on power.