Nobel Peace Prize winner predicts Maduro’s downfall with or without negotiations: ‘I have no doubt that we are counting down’

The defense of democracy and the fight against dictatorship in Venezuela were the reasons given for choosing the Nobel Peace Prize for Maria Corína Machado, leader of the opposition to Nicolas Maduro’s regime. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, offered this Monday (13) guarantees for Nicolás Maduro to leave power, but predicted the fall of the Venezuelan president or without negotiation, amid military pressure from the United States. María Corina spoke to AFP three days after receiving the Nobel Prize, which she dedicated to the Venezuelan people and the President of the United States, Donald Trump. The award was announced amid the crisis caused by the sending of American warships to the Caribbean, which the Venezuelan president denounces as harassment. Washington, on the other hand, presents it as an operation against drug trafficking, and accuses Maduro of leading a drug cartel. María Corina supports military maneuvers and avoided talking about an invasion. “The invasion that exists here is that of the Cubans, Russians, Iranians, Hezbollah, Hamas, the drug cartels, the FARC guerrillas. This is the invasion that is taking place in Venezuela”, stated the opponent, in a video call. “What we are asking is that these structures that plundered the country and that leave this trail of death and pain be dismantled, and Maduro now has the possibility of moving forward in a peaceful transition. With negotiation, without negotiation, he will leave power”, stated María Corina. The opponent emphasizes that Maduro rigged the elections on July 28, 2024, and that Edmundo González Urrutia was the real winner. She describes Maduro as cornered, although the ruler appears firm on TV. “We said that we are willing to offer guarantees, which we will not make public until we sit down at the negotiating table. If he insists on applying more and more force, the consequences will be his direct responsibility, no one else’s”, warned María Corina. “What consequences? I’m not going to speculate about that. We Venezuelans don’t have firearms, we have the say, we have the citizen organization, we have the pressure, we have the denunciation,” he added. Declaration of war María Corina said that the Nobel Peace Prize was not on her radar. She found out the news when she was woken up by a phone call. “It was one of the biggest surprises I’ve had in my life. I confess that today, three days later, I’m still processing it. I think this recognition for the people of Veneuela was a shot of encouragement.” The White House’s first reaction was critical. María Corina highlighted that, shortly afterwards, she dedicated the award to the American president: “There is a general consensus among Venezuelans in recognizing President Trump, which we consider fair and necessary.” “It is to convey to him how much Venezuela needs his leadership and the international coalition that has been formed (…) that are cutting off the sources of financing for crime, which are the ones that support this regime”, added the opponent. The deployment of troops in the Caribbean “is a decision that a country has made based on its national security defense strategies.” “The one who declared war on Venezuelans was Nicolás Maduro. He is the one who applies state terrorism internally and narco-terrorism externally”, said the Nobel laureate. María Corina said she maintains “fluid” communication with Washington and with governments in Latin America and Europe. He also stated that he maintains “increasing” contact with military personnel, who have publicly sworn loyalty to Maduro. Regarding the possibility of a revolt, the opponent responded: “Civilians, military personnel, we all have a role to play. In any case, any action that respects the presidential elections on July 28th would be the restoration of the Constitution.” María Corina has been living in hiding for more than a year, but says she can’t keep up. “If I had to do something now, it wouldn’t be to add days, but rather to subtract the ones that are missing, because I have no doubt that we are on a countdown.” Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado speaking from an undisclosed location, during an interview with AFP via Zoom, in Caracas, on October 13, 2025. Reproduction/APTV File photo: Maria Corina Machado, leader of the opposition in Venezuela, speaks to supporters protesting Maduro’s inauguration for a third term, in Caracas, on January 9, 2025. Reuters/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File photo

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