Venezuela's opposition leader María Corina Machado has emerged from 11 months of hiding in Oslo, Norway, days after her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. In a candid interview with BBC News, a CBS News partner, Machado spoke out about the dire state of her country, criticizing the government and its handling of the economic crisis.
"I'm telling you, the situation is catastrophic," she said. "We're not just talking about hunger and poverty, we're talking about a humanitarian crisis that's unfolding right before our eyes." According to Machado, the Venezuelan government has been mismanaging the economy for years, leading to a severe shortage of food and medicine.
Machado also criticized President Nicolás Maduro's regime for silencing dissenting voices and suppressing opposition. "They're not just stopping us from speaking out, they're imprisoning us, torturing us, and killing us," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. The opposition leader expressed hope that the international community will take action to pressure Maduro's government into making reforms.
Despite the dire situation in Venezuela, Machado remains optimistic about the future. She urged Venezuelans to continue to resist the government's oppressive measures, saying, "We're not going to give up. We're not going to lose our struggle for freedom and democracy."
"I'm telling you, the situation is catastrophic," she said. "We're not just talking about hunger and poverty, we're talking about a humanitarian crisis that's unfolding right before our eyes." According to Machado, the Venezuelan government has been mismanaging the economy for years, leading to a severe shortage of food and medicine.
Machado also criticized President Nicolás Maduro's regime for silencing dissenting voices and suppressing opposition. "They're not just stopping us from speaking out, they're imprisoning us, torturing us, and killing us," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. The opposition leader expressed hope that the international community will take action to pressure Maduro's government into making reforms.
Despite the dire situation in Venezuela, Machado remains optimistic about the future. She urged Venezuelans to continue to resist the government's oppressive measures, saying, "We're not going to give up. We're not going to lose our struggle for freedom and democracy."
. But seriously, it's crazy that her daughter got the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. What's next, her kid gets an Oscar too?! 
It's great that she spoke out about the situation in Venezuela though. I mean, someone's gotta be the voice of reason. The fact that they're criticising the government and saying it's a humanitarian crisis is not surprising, but still, it's good to hear from someone on the ground.
But hey, at least she's not giving up, that takes a lot of guts. Fingers crossed that her words will be heard and something gets done.
... like, their situation is just heartbreaking. It sounds like the government has been really messed up in its handling of the economy, leading to such a huge crisis. I can imagine how scary it must be to live with hunger and poverty, especially when they're not getting the help they need.
... she's right that everyone should have the freedom to express themselves without fear of persecution or violence. It's crazy that some people are still being silenced and even imprisoned just for trying to bring attention to the issues.
... she's like, "we're not giving up" and that's such a powerful message. It shows me that even in the darkest times, there's always hope for change. Maybe if we all just keep pushing for reform and supporting each other, things can get better for Venezuela someday 
People only see what they want to see, and ignorance is bliss... but not in Venezuela right now 
. But Machado's words are a beacon of hope – her determination to resist and fight for freedom and democracy is inspiring 
. The economic crisis and lack of food/medicine is insane 
. I'm so impressed she spoke out despite the risk 
. But Machado's optimism is inspiring 
. She's right, they can't give up on fighting for freedom and democracy 
.
! 22% of kids are malnourished, and the country is losing over 40% of its GDP since 2013 
. I mean, 4.5 million Venezuelans have fled to other countries, that's like losing half the population 
. And let's not forget about the economic crisis, with inflation rates soaring to 10 million percent in 2021 
! It's no wonder Machado is speaking out against Maduro's regime.
. But it's time for the international community to take action too 
.
. Venezuela's situation is dire, and it's going to take a lot more than just words to fix it 
.
also i'm loving that she's not afraid to criticize maduro's regime, it takes a lot of guts to do that. i hope the international community does take action tho, venezuela needs help ASAP. 
️ The situation in Venezuela is indeed dire, but Machado's optimism gives me hope that things can change for the better. It's heartbreaking to hear about the suffering of Venezuelans, but her courage and determination to speak out are truly inspiring. We need more people like her willing to take a stand against oppression and fight for freedom and democracy