Who Is María Corina Machado, the Liberal Elected to Challenge Nicolás Maduro’s Regime in 2024

María Corina Machado, the liberal candidate who was elected to confront Nicolás Maduro’s regime in 2024, is a prominent figure in Venezuelan politics. She won by a wide margin in the opposition primaries and is expected to be the unified opposition candidate in the upcoming presidential elections, pending confirmation of the electoral calendar by the Chavista regime. An industrial engineer with a specialization in finance from the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración and a graduate of the World Fellows program in public policy at Yale University, Machado boasts an extensive political track record.

Her foray into politics began 23 years ago, although it took two years for her to gain widespread recognition. Her initial steps were in 2002 when she co-founded the non-governmental organization Súmate, which aimed to ensure electoral transparency and citizen participation.

From the outset, Machado, who is 56 years old, made her anti-Chavista stance clear, expressing her determination to put an end to corruption and mismanagement. In 2004, through Súmate, she spearheaded the collection of approximately four million signatures for the recall referendum against then-President Hugo Chávez.

In 2010, she was elected as a legislator to the National Assembly from the state of Miranda, receiving the highest number of votes among legislators. She assumed office a year later. In 2012, she founded the Vente Venezuela party, which she still leads, and ran as a candidate in the presidential primaries organized by the Mesa de Unidad Democrática, then an alliance of opposition parties. Although her performance was modest, securing only 3.81% of the votes, she persevered. She ranked third, with Henrique Capriles, the candidate of Primero Justicia, winning with 64.33%.

Nonetheless, this did not deter her from her fight against Chavismo and her demand for the restoration of democratic order in the country. In February 2014, she called for a wave of protests known as “La Salida” (The Exit). This initiative was organized by the founder of the Voluntad Popular party, Leopoldo López, and Antonio Ledezma of Alianza al Bravo Pueblo. The protests gained such momentum that they continued until June of that year.

During these demonstrations, in March, Machado accepted the position of alternate ambassador of Panama to the Organization of American States (OAS). From this post, she denounced the regime’s atrocities and human rights violations before the Permanent Council.

However, this decision cost her her position in the National Assembly, a move that the ruling party justified with accusations of treason and alleged plans for an assassination. To this day, these accusations continue to raise questions. Since then, the leader of Vente Venezuela has been the target of dozens of attempts by the Chavista regime to silence her and remove her from the political arena. For example, a court prohibited her from leaving the country as a precautionary measure while the aforementioned investigation, which has now lasted for nine years, is ongoing.

She also does not have free movement within the country as many airlines refuse to allow her to board. This was evident in her recent campaign, during which she toured the streets of various cities, always in a vehicle.

In recent months, the regime played an important card: it disqualified her from holding public office for 15 years, citing alleged errors and omissions in her asset declarations. The measure was aimed at keeping her out of the electoral contest since, if she were to win, she would be unable to compete next year.

However, Machado has not backed down from the campaign; on the contrary, she has vowed to continue her path with even greater determination, stating that she will continue until the end. Her proposal, should she reach the Miraflores Palace, includes a free-market plan with support for private property and the rule of law, diverging from the socialist ideals that currently govern the country. She also outlines a massive program of mixed investments in areas such as infrastructure, public assets, and education to help the country achieve fiscal and monetary stability. Additionally, she advocates for a program of privatizing state-owned companies, including the highly criticized national oil company, PDVSA.

Finally, she commits to restoring economic, legal, and social guarantees, as well as fully restoring democratic order.

Massive Participation

“Come on, old lady!” shouted Machado’s supporters with a typical celebratory expression in Venezuela as the ballot counting concluded at a center in a commercial district of Caracas. In contrast to the automated electoral system used for elections organized by the authorities, the vote count in the opposition primary was manual. “Until the end! Long live a free Venezuela!” cheered Nilsa Correa, 53 years old, using Machado’s slogan. “She will go all the way; that disqualification is a lie… and she will overcome it.”

The primary took place five days after the signing of an agreement as part of a negotiation process between the government and the opposition. This agreement set the presidential elections for the second half of next year, with observation by the European Union and other international actors.

The United States responded by easing oil-related sanctions on the country for six months. However, this move is contingent on the lifting of disqualifications, a contentious issue in which Chavismo is reluctant to yield.

“We are part of a citizen’s story, and what we have seen today is a citizen avalanche inside and outside Venezuela,” expressed Machado in a press conference before the announcement of the results.

The primary was also held in 28 countries.