Thousands of supporters gathered in Madrid on Saturday to hear from Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who turned down an opportunity to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during her multi-nation European visit.
The Nobel Peace Prize recipient spoke to crowds while Sánchez was conducting a separate gathering of progressive world leaders. Machado used the occasion to praise President Trump’s decision to remove Nicolás Maduro from power in January.
Machado had previously given her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump earlier this year as recognition for his Venezuela policies.
“What happened in the last few hours at the meeting (Sánchez) held in Barcelona with several leaders and political figures from different countries demonstrates why such a meeting was not advisable,” Machado told reporters Saturday.
During an earlier appearance, the opposition leader confirmed her intention to return to Venezuela but would not specify timing or methods, recognizing the difficulties such a return would present.
Her European journey has included meetings with top officials in France, Italy and the Netherlands. This tour occurs as Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez continues serving beyond the original 90-day timeframe, while the United States has reduced certain sanctions against her administration.
Machado condemned Rodríguez’s leadership, characterizing it as representing “chaos, violence and terror,” and emphasized her commitment to establishing democratic elections in Venezuela. She expressed no regret about awarding her Nobel Prize to Trump, despite his administration’s reduced focus on her democracy movement.
The Venezuelan leader stated she maintains regular communication with Trump administration officials and supports Washington’s gradual approach to Venezuela following Maduro’s departure.
“There is one leader in the world, one head of state, who has risked the lives of his country’s citizens for the freedom of Venezuela. And that is Donald Trump,” Machado said, referring to the U.S. military operation in January.
The demonstration took place at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, where Machado appeared alongside Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the conservative regional leader of Madrid who has been a vocal opponent of Sánchez and welcomed Machado earlier that day.
Spain hosts approximately 600,000 Venezuelans, representing the largest Venezuelan population outside the Western Hemisphere. Many relocated due to political oppression and violence, as well as economic collapse in their homeland. Most reside in Madrid.
Among those attending Saturday’s gathering was Grehlsy Peñuela, a 27-year-old Venezuelan living in Spain, who continues to support Machado and hopes for her eventual return to Caracas.
Peñuela carried photographs of two cousins she says remain imprisoned in Caracas as political detainees, and indicated she would only consider returning to Venezuela under specific circumstances.
“That the current government completely steps down,” she said.
