María Corina Machado praises the United States’ operation to remove Nicolás Maduro from office
Venezuelans fear a political crackdown following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, as world leaders applaud the US operation that ousted him.
After a US special forces operation, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado celebrated Nicolás Maduro’s arrest, calling it “a huge step for humanity, for freedom and human dignity.” On Saturday, Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, were taken from their Caracas residence and transported by air to the United States.
Machado, who departed Venezuela last month to accept the Nobel Peace Prize for her resistance to what the Norwegian Nobel Committee referred to as a dictatorship, expressed her gratitude for the actions of US President Donald Trump.
Maduro insisted, “I am still president,” as he entered a not guilty plea to cocaine trafficking and other accusations on Monday in front of his wife in a New York court.
The level of political repression in Venezuela has increased even after Maduro was overthrown. Fears from the contentious 2024 presidential election are being echoed by reports that hundreds of opposition supporters are still being detained and that armed militias and an increased military presence are scouring the streets to stop any public fireworks.
“President Trump rightly pointed out how destabilizing Venezuela is for the region, drug running, human trafficking, harboring terrorists, We can’t just sit back and say there is nothing we can do all the time,” said Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who called Venezuela a “gangster state” and stated that it was “morally right” for the US to take action.
Fourteen journalists, including thirteen from foreign agencies, were reportedly briefly arrested on Monday. One was deported, but the others were freed. Venezuelans, meantime, have showed tentative opposition support by demonstrating from their homes with clanging pots and pans and posting pictures criticizing interim president Delcy Rodriguez.
However, public protests have been constrained by fear of detention as people consider the dangers of publicly endorsing the US-backed operation against Maduro’s government.
