Venezuelan Opposition Politician on Maduro Capture & the Uncertain Future

DAVID SMOLANSKY: This is something that the overwhelming majority of Venezuelans support, and this is a huge step for a democratic and orderly transition. Regarding Maria Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, they have the overwhelming support of Venezuelans. They’ve got the legitimacy not once, but twice in the case of Maria Corina Machado was elected in the primary. And then when she endorsed President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez, we won and we proved we won the election on July 28, 2024, 70-30, despite it was an election that lacked transparency and was rigged. But that was the tool that we used to mobilize millions of Venezuelans and has contributed to get to this point. And I don’t have any doubt that Maria Corina Machado with President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez are going to lead the rebuilding of Venezuela, for sure.

AMANPOUR: OK. Well, that — I’m glad you don’t have any doubt. And let’s reinforce what you say. Clearly, a majority of Venezuelans and many people around the world, including the Venezuelan diaspora, are delighted about this, shed no tears for Maduro and his wife. But this is not regime change. And I want to drill down with you on what, you know, Ambassador Robinson just told us, because I need to understand what’s going on. But first, the issue of respect and, I guess, influence with the military. This is what Mrs. Machado told me in October about — you know, about the support she thought she could call on in Venezuela.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA CORINA MACHADO, VENEZUELA OPPOSITION LEADER: He’s more isolated than ever, not only locally, I mean, internally, even — he doesn’t even trust the armed forces or the police. This crazy idea, which is all fake about, you know, arming militias is because he doesn’t trust the military. Over 80 percent of the armed forces are with us. They are also suffering hunger and humiliation, and they want to be part of a secure nation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: So, she’s obviously talking about Maduro and how he’s having to, you know, try to get these militias and all the rest of it. But just talk to me about this military thing, because that’s what the president of the United States said, that she does not have the command over them, the respect of them, the ability to step in right now. What do you think is the truth there, the reality?

SMOLANSKY: Well, Maria Corina Machado, on that interview that you just showed, was totally right. If Maduro had the support of the military and the armed forces, he wouldn’t stay in Venezuela. He would have survived the military operation. It was proven, something that we have said for years, that his inner circle of security was composed by Cuban agents. So, definitely he was isolated. He was probably betrayed, and he’s facing justice.

By the way, Christiane, I have to say something. Maduro is responsible for at least 20,000 illegal detentions, 20,000 innocent Venezuelans that didn’t have a right for a lawyer, attorney, didn’t have a right sometimes to have a visit from families. They were completely innocent just because they think differently. They were illegally detained. The majority were psychologically tortured and physically tortured. And now, it’s funny to see Maduro and Cilia with their rights being respected. They’re having food in the jail. They’re having access to an attorney. And they are having the coverage of the news. So, this is completely different what we have been going through in Venezuela. And we’re still have — we’re still have — they’re still — sorry, there are still more than 800 political prisoners that need to be released.

AMANPOUR: OK. So — but I have not heard President Trump or Secretary of State Rubio say one thing about that. And I’m just amazed, even more amazed by that, by the fact that they have not focused and they are not using the word democracy or anything like that. Maybe Rubio a little bit more, but putting it on hold for now while they do, I don’t know what. So, I want to know what you think they’re going to do. And furthermore, furthermore, what do you make of then? Because you’re right, there are very few tears that are going to be shed for Maduro. But Maduro’s henchmen and women are still running the country. You just heard the U.S. ambassador under Trump 1.0 saying that. That is a fact. So, what sense can we make of this? And how do you think there will be a democratic transition?

SMOLANSKY: Well, the beginnings of any transition always are a bit messy and confusing. It’s been only 60 hours since this operation happened in my country. I’m sure Secretary Rubio knows very well who Delcy Rodriguez is. Delcy Rodriguez is part of the Suns cartel. She was a mastermind to open Venezuela’s door to China, Russia and Iran. She has been an enabler to allow money laundry scheme and corruption for Maduro and obviously is someone that you cannot trust and someone that doesn’t have any support from Venezuelans. So, President Trump was very clear when he said that she could end even worse than Maduro.

So, I’m optimistic that this will end well. I don’t have any doubt and I want to reiterate that Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez are going to lead the rebuilding of Venezuela. They are the ones who can guarantee a great alliance with the U.S., a great alliance with the democratic countries in Latin America, a great alliance with the European Union and nations that go beyond. And this is something again that Venezuelans are celebrating because there has been so much suffering for a long time.