The Million Dollar Question
What was once a prosperous nation full of potential has been facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis for years, in its more than 200-year history. The situation is heartbreaking: high cost of living, collapsed public services, a devastated economy, political persecution, human rights violations, and the largest migration crisis in the region, with nearly 8 million forced migrants. Democracy has been hijacked, and the population suffers the consequences.
The Great Struggle for the Primary
October 22, 2023, became a milestone in Venezuela’s history. It was the day millions of Venezuelans around the world came together in an act of bravery and resistance, a massive demonstration of civil disobedience and civic responsibility. Led by the National Primary Commission, the governing body tasked with conducting this election and composed solely of individuals of outstanding integrity, the Primary was organized entirely by citizens, without regime intervention—that is, without state apparatus, with minimal resources, under dictatorship, and in some cases, from exile. It was established in 331 of the country’s 335 municipalities and 81 cities around the world. Despite obstacles and regime repression, civil society organized an unprecedented election: Venezuela’s Primary.
Throughout the process, adversity was present. Armed groups attempted to sabotage the election in various parts of the country. One case was in the El Limón sector in the state of Aragua, where armed motorcyclists began shooting and stole the ballots. Another case was at the Santa Rosalía voting center in Caracas, where a tear gas bomb was thrown. Even so, people resolved the incidents and managed to vote.
But there were also notable feats in the quest to vote. Some voters traveled long distances of up to 12 hours to reach their voting centers in countries like Chile and Canada, or voters from the Netherlands had to travel to Belgium. There was also the image of how some women used an ironing board as a voting table or the amusing yet emblematic scene where a woman from Táchira left her hair treatment to cast her vote before the voting center closed.
María Corina Machado: The Legitimate Leader
At the heart of this struggle is María Corina Machado, an exceptional figure in Venezuelan politics. With a background as an industrial engineer and a specialization in finance, Machado has dedicated her life to fighting for the establishment of a model of liberal republican democracy.
In 2002, she co-founded the NGO Súmate, an organization that advocated for Venezuelans’ political rights. Her role was crucial in collecting signatures for the recall referendum against then-President Hugo Chávez in 2004.
Machado also stood out as the most voted deputy in the National Assembly and founded the party Vente Venezuela in 2012.
Recently, the regime de facto, but not legally, disqualified her from holding public office for 15 years without a trial or judicial decision proving the legality of this disqualification. This assault was intended to prevent María Corina from competing in the Primary, but instead, it only consolidated greater international support and the indignation of Venezuelans, which was reflected in the ballots.
Contrary to the regime’s desires, María Corina Machado has declared that she will go “until the end,” as her campaign slogan says, in a citizen movement to compete in the 2024 presidential election, oust Chavismo, and become Venezuela’s first female Head of State. Her political plan includes measures diametrically opposed to those of the socialist regime, with a liberal political model: free market, protection of private property and the rule of law, promotion of entrepreneurship, and respect for human rights.
We Achieved the Primary, Now What?
With the resounding success of the Primary, the prospects for change in Venezuela have taken a new direction. Venezuelan political analyst César Báez of EsPolitiks has categorized this stage as crucial, dividing it into three fundamental aspects:
The first dimension is the expectation of change, a sentiment strengthened by the Primary results. Thousands of Venezuelans participated in a massive act of citizenship, showing their longing for a different future and the conviction that change is possible. María Corina Machado, with more than 92% of the votes, has become the undisputed leader of this movement toward freedom.
The second dimension relates to organizing and defending the vote. Along with international pressure, civil society has mobilized to ensure that electoral processes are fair and transparent. The regime’s persecution and repression are obstacles being faced with determination. The voice of the international community through sanctions, consensus, and negotiations is also crucial for achieving an orderly transition.
The third dimension, perhaps the most complex but equally crucial, is the breakdown of Chavismo. According to the pollster Delphos, in October 2023, nearly 70% of those identifying with soft Chavismo considered a change necessary. This largely explains why Chavismo’s base turned out to vote in the Primary. The cracks in Chavismo, once unthinkable, are becoming evident. The call for unity around the cause of freedom and democracy resonates even among those who once supported the Chavista project.
In Conclusion
This is a historic moment for Venezuela. The possibilities for change have become tangible, and the struggle for freedom has gained new momentum. The great citizen movement called Alianza Nacional, composed of civil society, unions, professional associations, political parties, NGOs, and led by María Corina Machado, is prepared to face all obstacles in its path. The international community, aware of the need for change, is lending its support. The breakdown of Chavismo, with bases demanding a different future, is a hopeful sign.
But it’s not just about the quest for freedom; it’s also about establishing a political and economic model that María Corina has proposed in her plan “Venezuela Tierra de Gracia,” which focuses on issues like childhood, youth, women, the elderly, health, education, energy, economy, public safety, among many other topics detailed and constructed by experts from a liberal perspective. A plan María Corina has summarized as: “A State at the service of citizens, in freedom and democracy.”
The path to Venezuela’s freedom is a monumental challenge, but with renewed hope, determination, and support, Venezuelans have shown that they are ready to achieve it. This is not only the beginning of a new stage but an opportunity for transformation, the restoration of democracy in Venezuela, and above all, the release of all political prisoners, the return of exiles, and the reunification of families.