Opposition leader María Corina Machado expressed this Thursday from Panama her “determination” to negotiate a democratic transition with the interim government in charge of Venezuela after the fall of Nicolás Maduro in January.

The opposition led by Machado claims the victory of its candidate Edmundo González Urrutia in the 2024 presidential elections, which, according to the complaint, Maduro won through fraud.

Now, five months after the fall of Maduro, the Nobel Peace Prize winner is calling for negotiations with the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, with the purpose of calling new elections.

Machado requested the support of the United States to “promote a serious, firm and responsible political negotiation with the interim regime to restore democracy in Venezuela,” indicates a statement signed by her from Panama.

“The central purpose of this negotiation is to achieve a free, transparent and sovereign presidential election,” adds the letter prepared at the end of a meeting with Venezuelan opposition political parties.

Although the document does not mention electoral candidates, Machado has already made clear his intentions to participate. “I will be the candidate,” she said last week during a rally before 2,000 Venezuelans in Panama.

Allegations of fraud generated a wave of post-election repression that ended with more than 2,000 detainees and dozens of political leaders exiled in other countries, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.

Transition process

The opposition considers that to create a favorable environment for the transition process, the full release of political prisoners, the safe return of exiles and the “dismantling of the repressive apparatus,” as well as “armed, illegal or terrorist groups,” is necessary, the statement indicates.

The Venezuelan government considers Machado a “fugitive from justice” and accuses her of requesting the US military intervention that overthrew Maduro.

The opponent has been in exile since December, when she staged a spectacular escape from the country to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

Since then he has met with political leaders from several countries, especially with the US government.

President Donald Trump has declared himself “satisfied” with the presidency of Delcy Rodríguez, who has promoted oil and mining reforms that open the doors to private and foreign capital.

Machado has announced on different occasions that he will return to Venezuela soon, but has not confirmed dates.

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