Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has said that her country is starting a "true transition to democracy" and that everyone there should have a right to vote as soon as possible in free and fair elections.
"We are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy," Ms Machado said during an event in Washington, adding that this will have an "immense impact in the lives of all Venezuelans" as well as around the region and world.
She earlier insisted she will be elected president "when the right time comes" despite the US sidelining her after overthrowing Nicolas Maduro.
US President Donald Trump has backed Mr Maduro's former vice president Delcy Rodriguez as interim leader of the oil-rich country following the 3 January US military operation to seize Mr Maduro.
"I believe I will be elected when the right time comes as president of Venezuela, the first woman president," Ms Machado told Fox News's Fox & Friends show broadcast after she met Mr Trump in Washington.
Ms Machado's party has presented evidence that Mr Maduro stole the 2024 election - claims supported by Washington and much of the international community.
But Mr Trump has said that Ms Machado does not have enough support among Venezuelans, and opted to stick with Ms Rodriguez, so long as she toes the line on US access to Venezuela's vast oil reserves.
"I want to serve my country where I am more useful. I got a mandate, and I have that mandate," Ms Machado told Fox.
Nobel medal
Ms Machado, 58, yesterday presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Mr Trump in a bid to win over the US president. "He deserves it," she said.
"And it was a very emotional moment, I decided to present the Nobel Peace Prize medal on behalf of the people of Venezuela."
It was not immediately clear if Mr Trump kept the award following their White House lunch. The Norwegian Nobel committee says its prizes cannot be transferred.
Mr Trump had campaigned hard to win last year's Nobel Peace Prize for what he says are his efforts to stop eight wars.
Instead, it went to Ms Machado, who appeared in Oslo last month to collect her prize - following a daring escape from Venezuela by boat.
Mr Trump and Ms Rodriguez had their first telephone call on Wednesday, and the White House said he "likes what he's seeing" from her.
Ms Rodriguez said however that her government will stand up to Washington.
"We know they are very powerful... we are not afraid to confront them diplomatically, through political dialogue," she said.
Ms Rodriguez was delivering Mr Maduro's state of the nation address to parliament while the long-time authoritarian leader is in a New York jail facing drug trafficking charges.
She told Venezuelans that if she should visit Washington, "I will do so with my head held high, walking, not on my knees."
By contrast Ms Machado, who campaigned for years to end leftist Mr Maduro's rule, was greeted by jubilant supporters in Washington.
The New York Times reported that Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe met with Ms Rodriguez yesterday, a further sign that Washington sees her as its favored leader in the short-term.
Mr Ratcliffe is the most senior known US official to meet with Ms Rodriguez, since Mr Trump attacked Caracas and captured Mr Maduro, and his wife.
He met Ms Rodriguez at Mr Trump's direction "to deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship," according to a US official.
The two of them discussed intelligence cooperation, economic stability and the need to ensure Venezuela was no longer a "safe haven for America's adversaries, especially narco-traffickers," the official added.
