Venezuela opposition renews support for Maria Corina Machado as leader

An alliance of Venezuelan opposition parties has reaffirmed its commitment to exiled Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado as its leader.On Sunday, members of the opposition’s Unitary Democratic Platform (PUD) agreed in a meeting in Caracas to “recognise and support the leadership of Maria Corina Machado”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US lifts sanctions on Venezuela’s top legislatorlist 2 of 3Venezuela’s Maduro pleads not guilty to US conspiracy to torture chargeslist 3 of 3Why are Latin American countries building closer ties with Israel?end of listThe coalition also renewed its demand for free elections in Venezuela, following a series of contested presidential votes in 2024 and 2018.Sunday’s statement included 14 proposals for a democratic transition, including freedom for political parties, the release of all political prisoners and the safe return of those who went into exile.The announcement also increases pressure on authorities to allow Machado’s return. She has been living in exile since leaving Venezuela last December to receive her Nobel Prize.“The will of the Venezuelans must once again govern the destiny of our nation,” the opposition’s former...