The Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office opens an investigation into María Corina Machado for “treason to the country”

The Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office has reported this Friday that it has opened an investigation into , with the aim of her being charged, for allegedly having supported a new package of sanctions that the United States is preparing through a bill that is being discussed in the House of Representatives. “The public statements that the aforementioned has made regarding this irritable bill seriously involve her and constitute the commission of the crimes of treason, established in article 128 of the Penal Code; conspiracy with foreign countries, established in article 132 of the Penal Code and association to commit a crime, established in article 37 of the Law against Organized Crime,” explains prosecutor Tarek William Saab in a note that he made public this afternoon.

Machado remains hidden in some secret place, from which she continues her political fight to recognize that on July 28 it was the opposition, which she leads, that defeated Chavismo. The one who served as candidate, Edmundo González, is in exile in Spain, a path that Machado has not wanted to follow, since he believes that his cause would lose strength if he left the country. The fact that the statement indicates that an investigation is being opened is pure formality. “He is going to be charged,” sources from the prosecutor’s office assure, so his fate is cast outside any investigation.

Machado has been charged for the first time since the elections were held. Unlike Edmundo González, whom the Prosecutor’s Office cornered with investigations and threats to confiscate his assets, Chavismo had not judicially persecuted the most visible face of the opposition, which achieved an extraordinary mobilization of Venezuelans ahead of the elections. That has changed this Friday, in one more step of radicalization of Chavismo since a good number of countries, allies and non-allies, suspect the victory that Maduro claims. Neither the president nor his entourage have shown the minutes certifying an electoral victory, which has only increased suspicions.

The Prosecutor’s Office uses a tweet in which Machado responds to US Congressman Mike Waltz, of the Republican Party. Waltz attached a screenshot of a New York Times news story and wrote below: “@MariaCorinaYA remains a beacon of hope for Venezuelans who rejected Maduro and his socialist authoritarianism. “I am proud that the House of Representatives approved my bill, the BOLÍVAR Law, to prevent the federal government from doing business with anyone who has commercial ties to the Maduro regime.”

Machado reacted this way, in English: “Thank you, Congressman @michaelgwaltz, for supporting the courage and will of the Venezuelan people. The Maduro regime will not silence the truth. We appreciate your leadership and all the members of the House of Representatives who defended and approved the BOLÍVAR Law. It is a crucial step to hold the Maduro regime accountable. We look forward to continuing the fight for freedom in Venezuela, working together to achieve a rapid transition to democracy and a bright future for the region.”

Tarek William Saab has used this exchange on social networks to start this process against the opposition leader. The arrest of Machado would raise tension to levels unknown until now and would represent a challenge to the United States, which already recognizes Edmundo González as president-elect and considers that Machado, who has managed to unite the opposition after years of fractures and division, is the main political figure of Venezuela.