Venezuelan authorities have launched a treason investigation against prominent opposition leader María Corina Machado

Venezuela in Turmoil as Opposition Leader Faces Treason Charges

Caracas: Venezuelan authorities have launched a treason investigation against prominent opposition leader María Corina Machado, escalating tensions in the nation’s political landscape. Machado is accused of endorsing a bipartisan U.S. congressional bill that proposes barring American companies from doing business with entities linked to President Nicolás Maduro’s government.

The Venezuelan Attorney General’s Office described Machado’s actions as a "grave criminal act against the people of Venezuela." She is also being investigated for alleged conspiracy with a foreign state and facilitating criminal activities.

Machado, a key opposition figure, was disqualified from running in the July presidential election amid widespread allegations of fraud. These included the arrest of opposition leaders, barring opposition witnesses from participating in central vote counting, and preventing expatriate Venezuelans from casting their votes.

In a statement, Machado expressed gratitude to U.S. Representatives Mike Waltz (R-FL) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) for sponsoring the bill, calling it “an essential step toward holding the Maduro regime accountable.”

President Maduro condemned the bill during a televised address on Wednesday, asserting that the opposition’s efforts to undermine his government would fail.

Maduro was declared the winner of Venezuela’s recent controversial election with 51% of the vote. However, the electoral commission has yet to release detailed results or records, fueling nationwide anger and uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the United States and several other nations have recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González as Venezuela’s president-elect, deepening the country’s political divide.

This investigation against Machado, coupled with international criticism of Venezuela’s electoral integrity, highlights the escalating challenges facing the Maduro regime and the growing unrest within the country.