WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) spoke with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, María Corina Machado during a bipartisan meeting alongside Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rick Scott (R-FL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Curtis (R-UT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Angus King (I-VT), and Chris Coons (D-DE).
“At today’s meeting with María Corina Machado, I expressed to her that while I was not supportive of the way that the Trump Administration deposed of Maduro, I am committed to helping Venezuela achieve a transition to democracy. A democratic Venezuela is beneficial to both countries. The Trump Administration needs to give Congress real answers as to how they will achieve that transition instead of propping up Maduro’s successor,” said Senator Gallego.
Senator Gallego meets with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, María Corina Machado
In 2023, Ms. Machado was fairly chosen by voters in the opposition primary to run against Nicolas Maduro in the July 2024 presidential election but was arbitrarily kept off the final ballot by the Maduro regime. Retired Venezuelan diplomat Edmundo González ran as the substitute opposition candidate. Following the July 2024 election, Maduro falsely claimed victory, despite refusing to release actual ballot data and meticulously detailed election observer data that showed a clear and overwhelming victory for Mr. González. The Maduro regime refused to peacefully transfer power by the January 2025 inauguration, instead arresting the opposition leaders, which resulted in Mr. González fleeing the country and Ms. Machado going into hiding.
In October, Senators Gallego, Durbin, Scott, Shaheen, and Cruz introduced a resolution honoring Ms. Machado.