Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of powerful twin earthquakes that have killed more than 2,295 people and injured over 11,000, according to government figures that have not been updated since last Wednesday.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez is under pressure as her mandate as interim leader nears expiration this Friday. She has been working to prevent the humanitarian setback from escalating into a political crisis.
A day after Rodriguez defended her government's relief efforts at a news conference, her main political rival, exiled Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, issued an appeal from Panama. Machado argued that the government's response revealed critical weaknesses and called for her return to Venezuela to assist with the transition process, especially in the wake of the tragedy.
"My presence stabilises the situation; it is part of the organising forces that the country needs at a time when the total absence of the state has become evident," Machado said, citing widespread criticism of the government's earthquake response as slow and disorganised. She emphasized, "The country needs figures it can trust."
Machado's statements highlight the growing political tensions as Venezuela continues to recover from the devastating quakes.
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