Opposition leader María Corina Machado, through the human rights branch of her party Vente Venezuela (Vente DDHH), released a statement on Monday outlining the prerequisites for a genuine democratic transition in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Delcy Rodríguez's temporary rise as interim president.
Dated January 6, 2025, the statement from the organization described the ongoing political shift as "inevitable and irreversible," cautioning that the only legitimate path to democracy involves fully restoring sovereignty to the Venezuelan people and respecting the leadership of Machado and elected President Edmundo González Urrutia.
"The time has come to free political prisoners, restore truth, and ensure justice prevails over impunity," the statement declared. It demanded the dismantling of repressive structures and the cessation of "crimes aimed at sustaining a decaying criminal framework."
Issued amid U.S. negotiations with Delcy Rodríguez to stabilize the nation after an American military operation, the document called for the closure of torture centers, reparations for victims, and justice for crimes against humanity committed over more than two decades of chavismo.
"Freedom is the destiny of the Venezuelan people. What needed to happen is happening. Long live a free Venezuela," the message concluded, striking a definitive break with residual chavismo and any notion of a "negotiated transition."
The statement came during a period of tension within Venezuela's new political landscape. According to Politico, Donald Trump's administration had set stringent conditions for Delcy Rodríguez to remain in power temporarily, including the expulsion of Cuban and Iranian agents, halting drug trafficking, and suspending oil sales to U.S. adversaries.
Machado, meanwhile, celebrated the beginning of an "inevitable transition" but also cautioned that she "would not endorse any agreement that legitimizes criminals," as she stated during an event in Caracas on Sunday.
Days earlier, Trump had withdrawn direct support for Machado, stating that "her role was already fulfilled," referring to the opposition momentum leading up to Maduro's downfall.
With its statement, Vente Venezuela aims to reclaim a central role in the institutional reconstruction process and send a clear message to the United States: the transition must be rooted in justice, not impunity.
Key Questions on Venezuela's Transition
What conditions has María Corina Machado set for Venezuela's democratic transition?
Machado has called for the release of political prisoners, the dismantling of repressive structures, reparations for victims, and justice for crimes against humanity.
How has the U.S. influenced the political landscape in Venezuela?
The U.S. set strict conditions for interim president Delcy Rodríguez, including the expulsion of foreign agents and halting certain international transactions.