Spain has described Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado’s decision to decline a meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as a “mistake,” deepening a diplomatic exchange during her recent visit to Madrid.
Read More: Death of Mozambique rebel leader shakes peace process
Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and prominent figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement, has been on a political tour in Spain where she addressed supporters and met several opposition leaders. During her visit, she chose to meet with Spain’s conservative Popular Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo and far-right Vox party leader Santiago Abascal, but declined a meeting with Prime Minister Sánchez.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares criticized the decision, saying Machado had engaged only with one side of Spain’s political spectrum. Speaking to public radio, he stated that such selective engagement “is a mistake,” and added that it is “an even greater mistake” when it involves the far-right.
According to officials, the Spanish government had expressed willingness for dialogue, but Machado reportedly considered the meeting “not opportune” given Sánchez’s participation in a progressive political summit in Barcelona.
Albares also rejected Machado’s broader criticism of Spain’s Venezuela policy, defending Madrid’s record of hosting Venezuelan refugees and supporting democratic efforts in the South American country. He noted that Spain has provided refuge to several opposition figures fleeing Venezuela.
Machado, who has been barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, has been actively seeking international support for the opposition. She has met global leaders and continues to advocate for democratic change in Venezuela, while sharply criticizing governments she views as insufficiently critical of the current Venezuelan administration.
Read More: Trump accepts Nobel medal from Venezuelan opposition leader
The exchange highlights ongoing political divisions between Spain’s left-wing government and opposition-aligned international figures, particularly on how to engage with Venezuela’s political crisis.