Venezuela's opposition leader María Corina Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize [AFP=Yonhap News]

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado emphasized that she should lead Venezuela, succeeding President Nicolás Maduro, who was arrested in the United States.

Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate last year, responded "Of course" when asked "Do you think you should be Venezuela's next leader?" in an interview with U.S. CBS broadcast on the evening of the 6th (local time).

She cited the argument that Edmundo González, the opposition candidate in the 2024 presidential election, had achieved a landslide victory. Machado, who was barred from running by the government and courts at the time, put forward González, a former diplomat, as a "stand-in," but ultimately lost to President Maduro.

However, the United States and Western countries have recognized González as the president-elect, claiming that the Maduro government engaged in election fraud.

Referring to the actual public sentiment two years ago, Machado emphasized, "The Venezuelan people have already chosen who should lead the government. We are ready and willing to serve the people as instructed by them."

These remarks come at a time when, following the U.S. ouster of Maduro, his close associate Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was inaugurated as acting president, and U.S. President Donald Trump, in communication with Acting President Rodríguez rather than the opposition leader, hinted at the possibility of "direct rule" of Venezuela.

Machado, finding her position precarious, is seen as seeking a role by asserting her legitimacy as the next leader through interviews with the U.S. media.

To this end, Machado simultaneously attacked Acting President Rodríguez and appeared to try to win favor with President Trump.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado campaigning in the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election [AFP=Yonhap News]

In the interview with CBS, Machado criticized the interim leader Rodríguez, saying, "No one trusts her," and "She is far from being a moderate."

She specifically stated that Rodríguez was "one of the main figures who designed the system that oppresses innocent people" under the Maduro regime, adding, "Everyone, both in Venezuela and abroad, knows perfectly well who she is and what role she played."

On the other hand, regarding President Trump, she said that although she had not yet spoken with him this year, "Trump's leadership and courage brought Maduro to justice. This is a tremendous accomplishment," expressing her "deep gratitude."

She also highly praised the U.S. military operation that captured President Maduro last weekend, calling it "an important step towards restoring Venezuela's prosperity, rule of law, and democracy."

However, despite Machado's overtures, President Trump recently dismissed her in a press conference, suggesting that she lacks sufficient support and respect within Venezuela and is not a suitable candidate for future leadership.

Nevertheless, voices supporting Machado are emerging within the Republican Party, the ruling party in the U.S., drawing attention to how this will affect the U.S. government's future policy towards Venezuela.

Senator Rick Scott (Republican-Florida) stated in an interview with U.S. cable news 'NewsNation' that he supports Machado as the next leader, saying, "Machado is a fighter and is loved by Venezuelans both at home and abroad."