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Venezuela’s Machado says Spanish PM’s leftist summit reason for not meeting him

By Thomson Reuters Apr 18, 2026 | 5:26 AM

MADRID, April 18 (Reuters) – Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said ​on Saturday the ‌reason she declined a meeting with Spain’s prime minister during her visit to ‌the ​country was him ⁠hosting a ⁠summit of progressive leaders in Barcelona.

The refusal from Machado, a right-wing liberal, ​to meet with the leftist coalition government ⁠led by ⁠Prime Minister Pedro ​Sanchez contrasts with her many ​encounters with the country’s ‌right-wing opposition to Sanchez.

“What has transpired in the past few hours ⁠at the meeting he held in Barcelona with various political ⁠leaders ‌from different countries ⁠is proof that ​such ‌a meeting was ​not advisable,” ⁠Machado told an event in Madrid.

(Reporting by Corina Pons; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Louise ​Heavens)