Maria Corina Machado Calls for Venezuelan Unity Following Maduro's Arrest

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado released a statement this Thursday urging the people of Venezuela to seize the opportunity for freedom and to stay organized and proactive during the democratic transition process.

Dated January 3, 2026, Machado's statement emphasized that Nicolás Maduro is now facing international justice for the grave crimes committed against Venezuelans and citizens of other nations. She highlighted the fact that, due to Maduro's refusal to accept a negotiated exit, the United States government has fulfilled its promise to enforce the law.

Machado declared that the time has come for both Popular and National Sovereignty to govern in Venezuela. She called for the release of political prisoners, the restoration of order, and the building of an "exceptional country."

Reflecting on years of struggle, Machado stated, "We have fought for years, given everything, and it has been worth it," emphasizing that now is the time for the citizens "who risked it all for democracy on July 28." She acknowledged Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate President of Venezuela, who, according to the statement, must assume his constitutional mandate and be recognized as the Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces.

Additionally, she urged Venezuelans both inside and outside the country to remain mobilized and vigilant: "To those within our country, be ready to implement what we will soon communicate through our official channels."

"To those Venezuelans abroad, we need you mobilized, engaging with governments and citizens worldwide, and committing them to the grand operation of constructing the new Venezuela," she added.

Machado concluded her message with a call for national unity, saying, "In these decisive hours, receive all my strength, my confidence, and my affection. We all remain alert and in touch. Venezuela will be free. We go hand in hand with God, until the end."