Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize two days earlier, a "demonic witch", Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
Machado was honored "for her tireless" fight for democracy in the South American country. Her movement claims victory in the 2024 presidential elections, which according to official data were won by Maduro.
"Around 90% of the population rejects the demonic witch Sayona," the president said, referring to a vengeful spirit from Venezuelan legends. He did not mention his opponent's name or her recent award.
The government often uses this nickname for Machado.
"We want peace and we will have it, but peace with freedom, with sovereignty," added Nicolas Maduro after the United States deployed ships to the Caribbean Sea to combat drug trafficking from Venezuela, accusing the leader of being the head of a cartel.
Maria Corina Machado supported these maneuvers and dedicated her Nobel Prize "to the suffering people of Venezuela" and to US President Donald Trump. He also claimed the prize, claiming to have ended several wars, AFP recalls.