Emmanuel Macron, concerned about the “health and safety” of María Corina Machado in Venezuela

Hours after Nicolás Maduro proclaimed himself president of Venezuela, the head of state of France, Emmanuel Macron spoke again with opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia and declared himself concerned about her health and safety.

“Continuing the most recent contacts with the Venezuelan opposition, the Head of State met again by telephone this Friday with Edmundo González Urrutia and then with María Corina Machado,” the French Presidency reported in a statement.

Macron was interested in “the state of health and safety” of the opposition leader, who, after spending months in hiding, participated on Thursday in a protest in which she was initially detained, but shortly after, released.

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In a video broadcast on the networks, Machado claimed to be “fine”, although with “strong pain and bruises in some parts” of his body.

The Elysée note explained that, during his talk with both opposition leaders, Macron told them “that France pays a lot of attention to respect for the rights of women and men.” committed to the defense of democracy in Venezuela”.

Second time Macron speaks with Venezuelan opposition leaders in three days

This is the second time in three days that the French president speaks by phone with Machado and González Urrutia. Last Wednesday, Macron told them that “the right of the Venezuelan people to peacefully demonstrate and assemble freely” must be respected.

Despite public support, France, like the rest of the European Union countries, except Italy, still does not recognize González Urrutia as president-elect after the elections of July 28, 2024.