The President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, warned that the opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, María Corina Machado, will have to 'answer to Venezuela' if she returns to the country. This warning came after Machado, who fled the nation after months in hiding due to fears of government reprisals, was questioned about the guarantees for her safety. 'We can assure you that I am in charge of the presidency of Venezuela, as clearly established by the Venezuelan Constitution,' Rodríguez said in an interview with NBC. She added that regarding her return to the country, Machado 'will have to answer to Venezuela.' 'As for her life, we don't understand all the fuss,' the interim president stated. This follows the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3. U.S. President Donald Trump has backed Rodríguez's new government, stating it operates under his administration's tutelage and is meeting all of Washington's demands, including access to Venezuela's oil sector. However, Machado was excluded from the transition process in that country, as Trump considers she lacks sufficient support. Nevertheless, after meeting with the opposition leader, to whom Trump was presented with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, the president called the gesture 'extraordinary' and said he could 'involve' her in Venezuela's future. Earlier this month, Machado said she does not believe her life is in danger if she returns to Venezuela, thanks to the 'pressure' the U.S. exerts on Rodríguez. Days after the opposition leader's meeting with Trump, a White House official announced that Rodríguez was planning to visit Washington, though no dates were specified.
