María Corina Machado, one of the leaders of the Venezuelan opposition, is advocating for a peaceful resolution to Venezuela’s power transition. In her op-ed, she emphasizes the urgent need for reconstruction that tangibly serves the people of Venezuela. For example, a few weeks ago, Machado just got back from Oslo, Norway. It was there that she received her Nobel Peace Prize for her years dedicated to promoting peace and democracy in her country.
Throughout her tenure in Norway, Machado confidently proclaimed that Nicolás Maduro is going to lose power. She thinks it will happen, one way or another, through negotiation or otherwise. She remains confident that the Venezuelan police and armed forces will support this shift, stating, “I am confident today that the vast majority of the Venezuelan armed forces and police, as soon as the transition begins, will obey orders, guidelines and instructions from superiors who will be appointed by the civil authority duly elected by Venezuelans.”
Machado has made it clear that she’s committed to making sure that the benefits of Venezuela’s reconstruction will be immediately evident to her country’s people. She stated, “We are fundamentally focused on how we can ensure that it is an orderly, peaceful transition, where the results of the country’s reconstruction are felt as soon as possible by Venezuelans.” Together, this vision helps to create a brighter world. Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, who left to escape the continuing humanitarian catastrophe, will go back home.
Yet, Machado has publicly expressed discontent over Spain’s refusal to lend a hand, pointing out its historical connection to Venezuela. She remarked, “Regarding the Spanish government, I will simply say that history will judge — as the people of Venezuela do today — what has been lacking, which has certainly been lacking.” Though this was a defeat, she mentioned that other European countries have filled the gap with action to defend Venezuelan citizens.
Machado was in favor of aggressive diplomacy and shining a spotlight on the Venezuelan crisis. She described it as a primary national security concern for the United States. It is not only — I would hope — the American government, I would hope that many other governments around the world are gearing up for this democratic transition in Venezuela for a number of reasons. She drew attention to the fact that the biggest migration crisis in the world today is that of Venezuelans. These individuals have had no choice but to leave their native country.
After Venezuela’s rigged 2024 presidential election, Machado endured a year and a half in hiding. Her recent flight to Norway was–pun absolutely intended–the high water point of her campaign to bring change. With international support helping her travel, she hopes to galvanize more international assistance in restoring democracy to Venezuela.
