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Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado Vows Maduro’s Presidency Will End
After over a year in hiding, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado pledges Maduro’s presidency will end, stressing a peaceful transition while praising Trump’s pressure on the regime.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-12
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado Vows Maduro’s Presidency Will End

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado made her first public appearance in over a year on Friday in Oslo, Norway, asserting that the presidency of Nicolas Maduro will come to an end, either through negotiation or otherwise.

Speaking to reporters, Machado emphasized her focus on a peaceful and orderly transition of power. “Maduro will leave power, whether it is negotiated or not negotiated,” she said in Spanish, underlining her hope for a non-violent process.

Her remarks come amid escalating pressure from the Trump administration, which has increased military activity in the Caribbean and seized sanctioned oil tankers off Venezuela’s coast. Machado praised these measures, calling them “decisive” in weakening Maduro’s government, while remaining cautious about potential military interventions on Venezuelan territory.

Venezuela’s political landscape remains highly polarized. Maduro has accused the US of attempting to topple his government, while critics argue Washington seeks access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Machado, who was barred from running in last year’s presidential election, has emerged as a prominent figure backed by Washington to replace Maduro.

Machado highlighted the presence of foreign actors, including Russian and Iranian agents, Hezbollah, Hamas, Colombian guerrilla groups, and drug cartels, warning that these elements complicate the country’s internal security dynamics. Nonetheless, she expressed confidence that the majority of Venezuela’s armed forces and police would comply with orders from a duly elected civil authority during a transition.

Experts caution that any leadership change would require careful negotiations with political and military officials to prevent internal conflict. Francesca Emanuele, senior policy associate at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, noted that Maduro’s Chavismo ideology remains strong, and entrenched corruption could complicate allegiance shifts within the military.

The Trump administration has shown no signs of easing pressure on the Maduro regime, maintaining the possibility of future seizures of sanctioned vessels and pursuing a “maximum pressure” strategy. Machado’s reemergence signals renewed opposition momentum, as she seeks to rally domestic and international support for a transition of power in Venezuela.
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