Maria Corina Machado is back in Venezuela. Her supporters staged demonstrations across the country after she entered via the land border from Colombia, holding rallies in the border regions before continuing on to Caracas.
“A night of Reunion in our Caracas,” she wrote on social media, accompanied by a video of her waving to supporters from the sunroof of a slow-moving vehicle.
“For the reunion of every family, for the freedom of every political prisoner, for the freedom of Venezuela,”
It was her 9th attempt to enter the country, previous efforts by air being unsuccessful. Although Machado hasn’t outright stated any accusations, it was almost certainly Washington that was behind her aborted attempts.
Her reception in the capital may have been warm, but the welcome home from US Secretary of State was considerably less so. Rubio, via his Twitter account, reiterated US demands that Machado respect ongoing US-led processes.
Machado remains the most popular politician in Venezuela, though her approval rating has slipped in recent months. Her return is likely to reverse that trend, as well as irritate her once-sponsor US President Donald Trump.
Machado left Venezuela just a month before the US invaded the country and captured then-president Nicolas Maduro.
Trump has often dismissed Machado publicly, despite her offering the US President her Nobel Peace Prize last year, and supporting his policy decisions — even detaining thousands of Venezuelans in the US and sending hundreds to be tortured at the CECOT detention center in El Salvador.
She has even echoed Trump’s false claims that the Venezuelan migration has worsened crime rates in the country, effectively demonizing her own people.
Despite that, Trump has continued to insist she doesn’t have what it takes to lead Venezuela, and the White House has made it clear they have happy with their current partner, the US-installed “interim president”, Delcy Rodriguez.
MCM’s return, although not unexpected, is a direct challenge to US wishes in the country. Some of her right-wing supporters, also fans of Trump, have had trouble squaring the circle with the fact that Trump has seemingly blocked her agenda.
There is little doubt she will advocate for elections, legislative in the short-term and presidential in the medium-term. Her public appearances have the appearance more of campaign rallies, with journalists and her party video team in tow, than a simple welcome celebration.
Her team is putting a bright face on relations with DC, however, perhaps placing their faith in staunch allies like Florida Governor Rick Scott. In a press conference attended by the BBC, her spokesman David Smolansky said, “We thank President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the US Government, Congress, and allied governments for their continued leadership and support.”
She is unlikely to face detention in Venezuela: neither the White House nor Rodriguez want the controversy, and likely public outcry, that would result from such a move.
Under US pressure, Venezuela has lightened restrictions on protests, and largely ceased arresting dissenters. Any direct move against Machado by Diosdado-led security forces is extremely unlikely, but for Machado to implement her political agenda and rule Venezuela, she will have to walk a fine line between being a firebrand for elections without incurring Washington’s wrath.
Trump has made it clear he prefers Venezuela as a US protectorate rather than a state with an elected and independent leader. He seems to believe it’s better for business.
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