María Corina says she will be a candidate for president of Venezuela

The leader of the Venezuelan opposition, María Corina Machado, stated this Saturday (23) that she will be a candidate for the presidential elections in her country, according to an announcement made at a press conference in Panama City.

"I will be a candidate, but there may be others, of course. I would love to run with everyone, with anyone who wants to be a candidate," said Machado, noting that the elections in Venezuela are part of the so-called three-phase plan implemented by the United States government to stabilize the country.

"We want to hold an impeccable election," said the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Regarding the possibility of her return to Venezuela, she stated that she has been talking to the United States government and that this will be "coordinated" with the American authorities, as she had already indicated in an interview with CNN.

During the interview, Machado indicated that he was discussing with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio the security conditions that would impact his return to Venezuela.

CNN has contacted the US State Department for comment on Machado's statements and is awaiting a response.

"They are our main allies, and it is clear that my return, as well as that of my colleagues, has the purpose of supporting and strengthening the plan presented by the Secretary of State in its three phases and preparing us for the fourth phase," Machado said this Saturday, adding that this final phase will be "the reconstruction" of Venezuela.

The three-phase plan was announced by President Donald Trump's administration days after the US military captured dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3 and transferred them to New York, where they face drug trafficking charges, which they deny.

The phases of the plan are stabilization, recovery and transition. Once the country stabilizes after Maduro's capture and recovers with new investment, the next step would be a transition of power through democratic elections, in accordance with the US government's plan.

On this last point, Rubio stated last week that the United States wants a political transition in Venezuela as a consequence of Maduro's ouster, but that the process should not be rushed.

(With information from Uriel Blanco of CNN)

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Source: CNN