French Political Divide Emerges Over U.S. Raid in Venezuela and Capture of Nicolás Maduro

French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly welcomed the recent U.S. military operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, declaring that the Venezuelan people are "liberated" from his dictatorship and expressing hope for a peaceful and democratic transition led by opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Macron condemned Maduro's regime for violating fundamental freedoms and diminishing the dignity of the Venezuelan people. He called on the opposition candidate to facilitate this transition, emphasizing France’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens during this uncertain period. Macron also engaged in diplomatic discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who stated the U.S. would oversee Venezuela until a secure political transition is established, and spoke with other regional leaders including Argentina's Javier Milei and Brazil's Lula.

However, Macron’s stance has ignited fierce criticism from France's left-wing and far-left political factions. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France insoumise, described Macron's approval of the U.S. actions as "a shame" for France, accusing him of abandoning France's diplomatic principles. Olivier Faure, the Socialist Party’s first secretary, condemned the French government's posture, asserting that France must not become a "vassal state" of the U.S. Leftist activists organized protests in Paris, with attendance exceeding a thousand, demanding Maduro’s immediate release and denouncing the U.S. military strike as a violation of international law.

Adding to the complexity, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot publicly condemned Maduro's capture by the U.S. as a breach of international law and stressed that no sustainable political resolution can be imposed from outside Venezuela. This mixed official response highlights a clear political divide in France: while Macron endorses a transition away from Maduro and supports U.S. efforts, opposition voices reject foreign military intervention and call for respect of sovereignty and international legal norms.

This political clash comes amid global uncertainty over Venezuela's future governance, with opposition Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado calling for Gonzalez Urrutia to assume the presidency immediately. As of now, France balances its diplomatic condemnation of unlawful foreign interference with support for a democratic solution, reflecting tensions within its political spectrum over international engagement and respect for sovereignty.