Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado emerged from 11 months of hiding to declare “Venezuela’s hour of freedom has arrived” after US forces captured communist dictator Nicolás Maduro, positioning herself to lead the nation’s transition to democracy.
Story Highlights
- US military operation successfully captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026
- Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado calls for immediate presidential transition to opposition candidate Edmundo González
- Machado praised Trump administration’s decisive action against the criminal regime
- Venezuela faces critical power vacuum as 7+ million exiled citizens may finally return home
Trump Administration Delivers on Promise to Remove Venezuelan Dictator
The Trump administration executed a decisive military operation on January 3, 2026, successfully capturing Nicolás Maduro and ending his 13-year reign of terror over Venezuela. This bold action fulfilled conservative promises to confront communist tyranny in America’s backyard while supporting legitimate democratic movements. Machado immediately praised the operation, expressing gratitude to President Trump for his unwavering support of Venezuelan democracy and freedom.
Nobel Winner Emerges to Lead Democratic Transition
Maria Corina Machado, who received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work toward peaceful democratic transition, stepped forward as Venezuela’s de facto leader following Maduro’s capture. After spending nearly a year in hiding due to regime threats, Machado publicly urged opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia to immediately assume the presidency based on documented election victories from July 2024. Her emergence represents the culmination of decades fighting against Chavismo socialism that has devastated the nation since 1999.
Opposition Documents Massive Election Victory Amid Regime Fraud
The Venezuelan opposition documented González’s landslide victory in the July 2024 presidential election through comprehensive vote tallies, despite the Maduro regime’s fraudulent claims of victory. Machado, who was barred from running due to fabricated corruption charges, backed González as her proxy candidate. The regime’s suppression of evidence and violent crackdown on protesters forced Machado into hiding, but she continued coordinating resistance efforts through her Vente Venezuela party.
Constitutional Crisis Creates Opportunity for Freedom
Venezuela now faces a critical leadership vacuum that Machado seeks to fill through constitutional means, calling for González to assume his rightful mandate. Experts view Machado as uniquely positioned to lead the delicate transition, citing her integrity and vision for post-socialist Venezuela. Her pro-market stance and opposition to unlimited presidential terms directly counter the authoritarian policies that destroyed Venezuela’s economy and forced over 7 million citizens into exile.
The successful removal of Maduro sets a powerful precedent for confronting communist dictatorships throughout Latin America while vindicating conservative principles of supporting legitimate democratic movements. Machado’s leadership offers hope for restoring constitutional governance, ending hyperinflation, and rebuilding a nation ravaged by decades of socialist mismanagement and corruption.
Sources:
María Corina Machado – Wikipedia
Maria Corina Machado – Facts – NobelPrize.org
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