The vision for a post-Maduro Venezuela discussed in January talks never touched on a role for prominent opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, according to a Qatari source who spoke with CNN.

The revelations have raised questions among Machado supporters, many of whom viewed her as the symbolic leader of the democratic opposition. Critics argue that excluding her from transition planning undermined the legitimacy of any future political arrangement. Others believe negotiators prioritized stability and avoiding institutional collapse over backing a single opposition figure.