Far-right opposition figure María Corina Machado is planning violent acts to sabotage the canonization of José Gregorio Hernández and Mother Carmen Rendiles, a religious event scheduled for October 19, said Diosdado Cabello, secretary general of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).

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On his program “Con el Mazo Dando,” PSUV leader Diosdado Cabello accused Machado of conspiring with narco-criminal groups to carry out assassinations—using snipers and explosives—around the time of the canonization of the “doctor of the poor,” José Gregorio Hernández.

Cabello detailed a plan involving everything from grenades to selective sniper killings. He further accused Machado of attempting to sabotage the canonization with the complicity of certain Episcopal Conference members. Should these efforts fail, he stated she plans to flee the country between October 20th and 27th, presenting evidence of unauthorized mercenaries attempting to enter Venezuela.

The objective of the operation planned by Machado would be to generate “a shocking event” in Venezuela, to seek the destabilization of the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuelan authorities have on several occasions denounced Machado’s involvement in destabilization plots revealed earlier this year, noting that the plans—carried out at the request of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio—were intended to spread violence and insecurity across the South American nation.

The accusations come as a recent study by the polling firm Datanálisis reveals that 64.6% of Venezuelans reject Machado’s role as an opposition leader. Furthermore, the opposition figure—who in 2018 called on Israel to intervene militarily in Venezuelan territory—records a 92 percent disapproval rating in a national survey by Dataviva, further reflecting the Venezuelan people’s defense of their national sovereignty.

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