U.S. Officials Get Frustrated Over Machado’s Comments
Machado, a prominent opponent of Nicolás Maduro and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, told the media outlet that a credible election process involving manual ballots “could be done in nine to 10 months” if preparations begin soon — a quicker schedule than some U.S. officials consider prudent.
A White House adviser speaking on condition of anonymity said Machado’s remarks “rubbed some people the wrong way,” accusing her of undermining wider U.S. policy achievements in Venezuela — including the freeing of political prisoners and collaborative efforts with Venezuelan authorities — by positioning herself as the central figure of the opposition.
The adviser also criticized Machado, saying: “All Maria Corina Machado does is try to negate all of this… she’s selfish,” and asserted that U.S. efforts are about “Operation U.S. national security,” not her political ambitions, arguing she is acting as a “spoiler” and harming U.S. national security objectives.
Another official close to the White House suggested that Machado “shouldn’t be opining on a time frame,” and described a roughly 24 month timeline as more realistic for organizing trustworthy elections than her nine to ten month estimate.
Machado’s office has dismissed the criticism as mere “media noise,” maintaining that the Venezuelan opposition’s goals are aligned with U.S. interests in achieving a free, stable, and democratic Venezuela — but emphasizing that such developments cannot occur “overnight.”
Meanwhile, analysts note her comments come amid ongoing international and U.S. discussions about the future of Venezuela’s political transition, with various officials outlining different expectations for when elections might be feasible.
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