Machado challenges Maduro and affirms that he will run in the Venezuelan elections: "He will face me and we will defeat him"

Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader, announced on Monday that she intends to challenge Nicolas Maduro in the upcoming presidential elections. This comes after the Supreme Court of Justice upheld the political disqualification against Machado, preventing her from participating in any electoral process until 2036. The government has stated that there is no room for debate as the court has already ruled.

Machado confidently stated that she will face Maduro and defeat him in a free election, emphasizing the importance of citizens expressing themselves freely. She also made it clear that she will not name a replacement candidate for the presidential elections, which are yet to be scheduled.

Regarding the Supreme Court’s decision, Machado dismissed it as judicial delinquency, arguing that she has planned strategies to overcome the obstacles in her path. She reminded everyone that she won the primary elections with a vast majority, receiving the mandate of nearly three million Venezuelans.

Furthermore, Machado criticized Maduro’s regime for failing to comply with the Barbados Agreement signed with the opposition, which included the qualification of candidates and the release of political prisoners. She highlighted that this breach also violated the agreement between the US and Maduro, which involved the temporary lifting of sanctions on Venezuelan gas and oil.

The US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s decision and its impact on a competitive presidential election. He mentioned that the US is reviewing its sanctions policy due to this action and the targeted attacks on the opposition and civil society. Similarly, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, criticized the court’s decision and stated that it does not promote pluralism. Spain has requested a review of the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Venezuela.