Venezuelan Opposition Leader Calls for Power Shift
Venezuelan opposition leader María Colina Machado made a significant appeal on Saturday, urging the military to abandon President Nicolas Maduro’s government. She called for recognition of Edmundo González, the opposition-backed candidate, as president, following news of Maduro’s detention by the United States.
This statement came shortly after President Donald Trump declared that U.S. forces had conducted a substantial military operation against Maduro’s government, resulting in his capture. Trump claimed Maduro and his wife had fled the country, marking what he characterized as a rare direct U.S. military action against a Latin American leader.
“It’s time for freedom,” Machado expressed on social media. “This is the moment of the people. On July 28, we risked everything for democracy. We elected Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate president of Venezuela. He must assume his constitutional duties and be recognized by all members of the armed forces.”
As the situation unfolded, it remained ambiguous whether key military commanders had shifted their loyalties or if rebels had taken control of state institutions.
Machado also urged Venezuelans to stay “vigilant, active, and organized,” indicating that further instructions would be shared via official opposition channels. She called on Venezuelans living abroad to mobilize in order to push foreign governments to recognize the new leaders in Caracas.
Reports indicate that U.S. forces bombed parts of Caracas early Saturday, seizing Maduro and his wife over drug trafficking accusations and transferring them to New York.
Both Machado and González have repeatedly claimed that the presidential election held on July 28 was fraudulent, asserting that independent voter counts show González winning by a considerable margin.
Electoral authorities, aligned with Maduro, declared González the winner with nearly 52% of the votes against about 43% for Maduro. However, the opposition alleges that González actually garnered about two-thirds of the total vote while Maduro received around 30%, a claim echoed by several foreign governments that have not recognized the official election results.
Maduro’s administration has resisted disclosing detailed provincial data to verify these results, further insisting that the election did not accurately reflect the voters’ will.
While González has emerged as the candidate supported by the opposition, Machado remains a key leader within the movement. She won the primary for the opposition but was disallowed from running by Maduro’s regime, prompting the coalition to support González instead. Throughout the campaign, González has publicly acknowledged Machado as the leader of their movement, with her continuing to guide strategies, messaging, and voter mobilization efforts.
