Venezuelan prosecutors have announced the opening of a ‘treason’ investigation against opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, accusing her of supporting US sanctions aimed at ousting President Nicolas Maduro after his re-election.

The prosecutor’s office said in a statement that it had ‘opened the investigation because Machado’s support for tougher US measures constitutes treason against the country, according to Article 128 of the Penal Code, and conspiracy with a foreign state’.

The US House of Representatives has passed the ‘Bolivar’ bill, which still needs the green light from the Senate and the president’s signature to become law, prohibiting the US from signing contracts with people who do business with the government of Nicolás Maduro.
During his first term in office (2017-2021), US President-elect Donald Trump has pursued a policy of maximum pressure against Maduro, tightening financial sanctions and imposing an oil embargo.