Venezuela will be free, Machado says after Maduro’s arrest

Following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores after a US attack on Caracas, opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado addressed the nation.

In a message on X, formerly Twitter, Machado told Venezuelans that “the moment of freedom has arrived,” saying the opposition was ready to enforce the people’s vote and assume power. She urged citizens inside the country to remain alert and follow instructions issued through official channels.

Machado also called on Venezuelans abroad to organise and engage governments and citizens worldwide in support of the process. “In these decisive moments, receive all my strength, confidence and love,” she said. “Venezuela will be free.”

US President Donald Trump has said Maduro and his wife are being taken to New York to face trial on drug and arms-related charges.