Experts informed Fox News Digital that Venezuela’s ongoing political turmoil, attributed to an allegedly rigged presidential election, cannot be resolved merely by elevating opposition candidates, though it is a significant initial measure.
Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., remarked during a digital press conference, “I believe these are patriots. Maria Corina Machado is among the most courageous individuals I’ve ever met and one of the greatest political leaders globally.”
Rubio added, “She has stayed resolute in the country, setting aside her personal ambitions to become the opposition candidate, which shows her dedication.”
“These are remarkable individuals, driven by their love for their country,” he concluded.
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In the November 2023 primaries, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro intervened to preclude the extremely popular Machado from competing, compelling her to withdraw and allowing Edmundo Gonzalez to lead the opposition.
Polling conducted prior to the election, which is illegal in Venezuela, indicated that Gonzalez had twice the support of Maduro and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), yet the Maduro-dominated National Electoral Council announced a victory margin of 51% for Maduro against 44% for the opposition.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez demonstrate solidarity during a protest against the presidential election results on July 30, 2024, in Caracas, Venezuela. (Alfredo Lasry R/Getty Images)
Following this decision, Venezuelans mobilized in peaceful protests, but Maduro responded by deploying police to disperse the crowds, resulting in violent confrontations.
Ultimately, the Biden administration declared Gonzalez as the legitimate winner of the election, citing, “The overwhelming evidence makes it clear to the United States and, importantly, to the Venezuelan populace that Edmundo González… secured the highest number of votes in the July 28 presidential election.”
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Joseph Humire, executive director of the Center for a Secure Free Society, emphasized that “genuine change in Venezuela won’t be achieved through a single election, but it’s a vital beginning.”
“After 25 years of autocratic, socialist governance, Venezuelans have lost nearly all their freedoms,” Humire expressed to Fox News Digital.
A supporter shouts slogans during a protest against the presidential election results on July 30, 2024, in Caracas, Venezuela. President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of the election over his rival, Edmundo Gonzalez. (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
“They face a lack of economic freedom, political rights, and severely restricted freedom of expression,” Humire articulated. “The primary reason for the high voter turnout for Edmundo Gonzalez in this election (and by extension for Machado, despite her exclusion from the ballot) was the desire to regain their freedoms.”
He continued, “Venezuela is governed by a criminal system deeply entrenched within many state institutions, having equivalent power networks outside the government through armed non-state actors. For real change in Venezuela, Maduro’s departure is necessary, but not sufficient.”
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“Even if Maduro and his associates depart, the Chavista criminal system would persist, likely attempting to subvert and manipulate any transitional processes,” he cautioned, drawing parallels to Bolivia, where a leader resigned but managed to return due to the inability to dismantle his established power structure.
Humire suggested continued efforts by Machado and Gonzalez to “undermine the Chavista regime,” referring to the governance structure established by Hugo Chavez and subsequently inherited by Maduro in 2013. He warned of possible “adaptive agents” within the opposition that may align with Maduro’s party.
Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s president, speaks during a press conference at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on July 31, 2024. (Gaby Oraa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“The opposition has historically contained individuals referred to as ‘enchufados,’ a Spanish term for those connected to the regime,” Humire stated. “These are false oppositional members who engage in clandestine business and political arrangements with Maduro’s administration.”
He expressed concern that these “enchufados” might a) redirect the narrative to validate Maduro’s electoral fraud; or b) undermine the transition process in Venezuela, even if Edmundo Gonzalez is recognized as the president-elect.
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Supporters of Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and leader Maria Corina Machado display their photos during a campaign rally in Maracaibo, Zulia state, Venezuela on July 23, 2024. Venezuela held presidential elections on July 28, 2024. (Raul Arboldea/AFP via Getty Images)
Isaias Medina III, former United Nations Security Council diplomat and Edward Mason Fellow at Harvard University, shared with Fox News Digital that the recent “massive marches” in Venezuela highlight a grassroots call for change, but he acknowledged the significant challenges faced when “opposing a brutal regime willing to use violence against its citizens.”
Medina said, “Deep transformation is required in Venezuelan politics. Unfortunately, a strategy for exit is essential for Venezuela. Yet, is it truly Maduro’s choice to accept any negotiation or amnesty proposal? Various dubious stakeholders manipulate Venezuela’s compromised sovereignty, making it a transnational crisis jeopardizing regional stability.”
Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro’s regime protest in Caracas on July 29, 2024, a day following the presidential election. Protests erupted in parts of Caracas against Maduro’s claimed victory, which remains disputed by the opposition and questioned internationally, as noted by AFP journalists. (Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)
Medina argued, “Venezuela requires a new political strategy that is free from ‘politiqueros’ who prioritize personal interests over the nation’s welfare and paternalistic government policies: governments must serve their citizens, not vice versa.” He stressed the need for a focus on education, job creation, and a genuinely representative congress to discuss issues and develop effective solutions.
“If Gonzalez and Machado cannot manage the removal of the puppet usurper from ‘Miraflores’ (the Venezuelan equivalent of the White House), their ability to rebuild the nation will be significantly hindered,” he stated. “Nonetheless, I hold out hope that they will prove me incorrect.”
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“Venezuela requires more than just savior-like ‘Presidents’; it demands a transitional government with a robust mission to restore the rule of law, amend flawed governance, and remove illegitimate usurpers,” Medina emphasized.
“Genuine transformation necessitates the integration of qualified individuals through a merit-based approach across sectors, shifting the state’s paternalistic socialist practices toward self-development opportunities for a resource-rich but impoverished nation,” he asserted. “Venezuela needs a ‘New Way’ that effectively merges citizen-public-private initiatives with economic growth incentives.”
