MADRID (AP) 鈥� Venezuela’s exiled opposition leader drew several thousand supporters Saturday to a rally in Madrid, where the Nobel laureate declined a meeting with Spain’s progressive Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez on a multicountry European tour.
厂谩苍肠丑别锄, of U.S. President Donald Trump, was hosting from around the world Saturday, while Machado extolled Trump’s ouster of Nicol谩s Maduro in January.
Earlier this year, she presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize.
鈥淲hat happened in the last few hours at the meeting (S谩nchez) held in Barcelona with several leaders and political figures from different countries demonstrates why such a meeting was not advisable,鈥� Machado told reporters Saturday.
Machado insisted at an earlier event she will be returning to Venezuela, but declined to say when, or how, and acknowledged the challenges implicit in a return to her country.
Her multistop European tour, during which she met with the leaders of France, Italy and the Netherlands, comes while Venezuela鈥檚 interim President Delcy Rodr铆guez has continued in her temporary role, initially imposed on it, while the U.S. government has lifted some sanctions against her.
Machado criticized Rodr铆guez鈥檚 government, saying it represented 鈥渃haos, violence and terror,鈥� and reiterated her belief in the need and advent of democratic elections in Venezuela. Machado added she did not regret Nobel.
She said was in permanent contact with officials in the Trump administration and trusted Washington’s phased process in Venezuela since Maduro’s removal.
鈥淭here is one leader in the world, one head of state, who has risked the lives of his country鈥檚 citizens for the freedom of Venezuela. And that is Donald Trump,鈥� Machado said, referring to the U.S. military operation in January.
The opposition leader drew a huge crowd in the Spanish capital鈥檚 Puerta del Sol, standing beside Madrid鈥檚 conservative regional leader Isabel D铆az Ayuso, one of S谩nchez鈥檚 loudest critics who feted her earlier in the day.
Some 600,000 , home to the largest population outside the Americas. Many fled political persecution and violence, but also the country鈥檚 collapsing economy. A majority live in the capital, Madrid.
Twenty-seven-year-old Grehlsy Pe帽uela, a Venezuelan migrant in Spain who attended Saturday’s rally, said she still placed her hopes for her country in Machado and her eventual return to Caracas.
Pe帽uela, who held signs with the faces of her two cousins she said remain incarcerated in Caracas as political prisoners, would consider returning to Venezuela only under one condition.
鈥淭hat the current government completely steps down,鈥� she said.
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