The Venezuelan diaspora, meanwhile, is called to mobilize, pressure governments and societies of the world, and commit them to what she defines as "the great operation of building the new Venezuela." The statement was quickly supported by González Urrutia, who described the moment as "decisive" and assured that the opposition is ready to start the country's institutional reconstruction. From this perspective, Machado frames the attacks and the capture of the Chavist leader as an irreversible turning point, and demands that from now on "popular sovereignty and national sovereignty" prevail in Venezuela, concepts that, according to the opposition, were for years subordinate to an authoritarian apparatus sustained by repression and electoral fraud. Among the immediate objectives she lists are the restoration of institutional order, the release of political prisoners, the country's economic and social reconstruction, and the return of millions of Venezuelans who emigrated during the last decade. This trip marked her international reappearance after more than a year in hiding in Venezuela, motivated by the hardening of persecution against opposition leaders. During her stay in Norway, Machado held meetings with political leaders and international figures, reinforcing her global profile in a context of maximum instability for the Chavist regime. Despite this, he highlighted Machado's composure throughout the journey, despite the injury. The opposition leader's call comes amidst an unprecedented political realignment in Venezuela, with Chavism battered, power leadership in dispute, and the international community divided on the way forward. Shortly after Machado's communiqué was released, U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed her political figure and stated that the opposition leader does not have the necessary support or respect to govern Venezuela. Her departure from Venezuela was carried out through a classified operation, which included maritime transfers in extreme conditions and a subsequent flight abroad. In a message to the citizens, she stated that the active participation of the population will be key to consolidating the democratic transition and leaving behind the Chavist cycle. However, the international scenario showed signs of ambiguity. "What had to happen is happening," the communiqué emphasizes, seeking to convey the idea of a long-postponed victory. Machado also vindicates the presidential election of July 28 and affirms that the Venezuelan people chose Edmundo González Urrutia as legitimate president. Caracas, January 6, 2026 - Total News Agency - TNA - In a high-impact political message released early Saturday, opposition leader María Corina Machado stated that "the time for freedom has come" and maintained that Nicolás Maduro "faces international justice today for heinous crimes," in direct reference to the military and judicial actions driven by the United States against the Chavist regime. The statement marked one of the most forceful positions of the Venezuelan opposition since the capture of the Chavism leader and opened a new stage of political tension, both inside and outside the country. The communiqué, dated January 3, 2026, calls on Venezuelans to remain "vigilant, active, and organized" and posits that the country is facing a historic opportunity to advance towards a democratic transition. In this framework, she states that González Urrutia must "immediately" assume his constitutional mandate and be recognized as Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces, a call that once again places the military at the center of the political board and rekindles a historically conflictive relationship between the opposition and the military establishment. The message includes differentiated instructions depending on the place of residence. For those within Venezuela, Machado asks them to remain attentive to new official communications to activate the actions that, she anticipates, will be announced shortly. "Today we are prepared to enforce our mandate and take power," stated Machado, in a message that combines an epic tone, religious appeal, and a political roadmap oriented towards the definitive break with the regime. In the text, the opposition leader maintains that, after Maduro's refusal to accept a negotiated exit, the U.S. government "fulfilled its promise to enforce the law." "We have fought for years, we have given it all, and it has been worth it." "She is a very kind woman, but she does not inspire respect," he declared, while denying having maintained direct contact with her, despite Machado having supported for months the U.S. military pressure on the Chavist regime. In parallel, uncertainty grows about the current whereabouts of the opposition leader. The "hour of freedom" message seeks to capitalize on that void and place the opposition in a position of initiative, although the outcome of the transition remains open and conditioned by high-risk military, external, and social factors. There is no official confirmation on her whereabouts, after her last public appearance was in Oslo, Norway, where she received the Nobel Peace Prize. According to sources close to her, during that journey she suffered a vertebral fracture due to the heavy waves and the maneuvers intended to avoid official controls. Former U.S. special forces member Bryan Stern affirmed having participated in the rescue operation and described the procedure as highly risky, both due to the weather conditions and the logistics involved.
