While the failed Chavismo economic policies have put millions of Venezuelan citizens on the breadline, and sent millions more fleeing the ongoing economic crisis to the shores of various nations around the world, the new front runner in Venezuela’s political race, Maria Corina Machado, is the hope that millions of Venezuelans desperately cling to — the redeemer whom they hope will return the oil capital of the world, the once most glorious, bright and shining star of South America, Venezuela, to the heights of its former glory.
There is no question that Machado, with her liberal, right wing, capitalist economic policies, can stabilize the flailing Venezuelan economy. Her inauguration is likely to be quickly followed by the complete lifting of economic sanctions by the United States and the flooding of the Venezuelan economy with Petrodollars. If the battle is fought at the ballot box, Maria Corina Machado stands a very great chance of unseating her longtime political opponent, Nicolas Maduro in the upcoming October 2024 Venezuelan Presidential Election. The question is: will Nicolas Maduro allow her to?
Nicolas Maduro, a die hard socialist who has as idol the likes of former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, has been condemned by the international community for rigging elections, banning international observers, authoritarian tendencies, abuses of human rights, meddling in the judiciary, and political violence using the state security apparatus. Now he wants to rob Guyana of the Essequibo region and threatens to destabilize the peace of the South American continent and Caribbean community.
Despite being banned from running for office by the Maduro Regime, on Sunday, 22nd of October, 2023, Machado claimed victory in the opposition primary which was held to pick a candidate for next year’s Venezuelan presidential elections which is scheduled for October, 2024. The said primary took place days after the US temporarily lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s oil, gas, and mining sectors as part of a pact made with Nicolas Maduro in the hopes of returning free and fair elections to Venezuela and finally wresting the country from the morbid claws of 24 years of socialist, dictatorship rule.
“Young people have lost hope, along with many Venezuelans, and many haven’t known anything other than chavismo,” Alexander Sarmiento, a 21-year-old student, said as he lined up to vote for Machado in Caracas on Sunday, 22nd of October, 2023. “Machado is the best chance for change.”
Although Machado shares the national Venezuelan sentiment that “the Essequibo is Venezuela,” she recently condemned Nicolas Maduro’s December 3 referendum which aims to empower the government to annex the Essequibo by force. And she proposes fighting the case at the International Court of Justice and respecting the rule of law.
All Guyanese should support Maria Corina Machado in her quest for the Venezuelan Presidency since she brings new hope for better partnership and diplomacy between the two countries. All Venezuelans should support Maria Corina Machado as she runs for office since she promises new hope of a bright and prosperous future for the people of Venezuela.
