U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the idea of working with Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado on a political transition for Venezuela, a setback for the opposition leader who won international acclaim in her fight for democracy in the country.
While Machado is a ¡°nice woman,¡± she lacks support and respect inside Venezuela, Trump said Saturday in a news conference to discuss the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. ¡°I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader,¡± he said. Instead, he said the U.S. plans to work with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro¡¯s second-in-command.
The president¡¯s remarks left opposition leaders and Machado¡¯s team stunned and saddened, according to people familiar with the matter. Before leaving to collect her Nobel last month, Machado had been living in hiding in Venezuela, refusing to leave her country as she pressed the international community to condemn Maduro¡¯s regime for human rights violations and election tampering. She had been adamant that her group was ready to lead the day Maduro was no longer in charge.
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