Despite a ban imposed by the Maduro government preventing her from holding office, presidential candidate María Corina Machado swept the opposition primaries in October. Days later, opposition negotiators managed to extract meaningful electoral concessions in an historic agreement signed in Barbados, which laid out a roadmap for competitive elections in 2024.

Now, however, the agreement is being tested as the Venezuelan Supreme Court recently ruled to uphold Machado’s ban, leading the US to reimpose sanctions on the mining sector. In this context, the democratic opposition is weighing next steps. What does Machado see as the path forward? What potential outcomes are possible, and how can the US and regional actors improve the prospects for regional cooperation in support of political agreements and a free and fair election?

At a pivotal moment for Venezuela’s future, please join the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center on Monday, February 26 at 1:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm Caracas for a virtual conversation with presidential candidate María Corina Machado on her perspective on the current situation and how she plans to position herself in the coming months. 

The conversation will be hosted online, and accessible at the YouTube links above at the time of the event. The event will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation to Spanish available.

This event is part of AALAC’s ongoing commitment to a democratic resolution of the political and economic crises gripping Venezuela, and follows our work to support the ongoing negotiations and electoral processes. For more information, see our announcement of the new Venezuela Solutions Group and the August 2023 issue brief dedicated to expediting implementation of the UN humanitarian accord.

Featuring

María Corina Machado
Presidential Candidate, Vente Venezuela Party
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

In conversation with

Geoff Ramsey
Senior Fellow, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center
Atlantic Council

Opening remarks by

Carrie Filipetti
Executive Director
Vandenberg Coalition

Closing remarks by

Leopoldo Martínez
Founder and CEO
Center for Democracy and Development in the Americas

Visions of Change: Conversations with Venezuelan Opposition Presidential Candidates

Join the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center in conversations with leading Venezuelan opposition presidential candidates.

People hold a Venezuelan flag and placards as union workers, members of political opposition parties, and others participate in a protest against the government of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro during May Day, in Caracas, Venezuela May 1, 2023

Issue Brief

Aug 11, 2023

Getting Venezuela’s historic humanitarian accord up and running

By Geoff Ramsey, Ignacia Ulloa Peters

Venezuela’s crisis has generated a large and complex global emergency. Recent negotiations have resulted in agreements between the Maduro regime and the opposition, including a $3.2 billion Social Agreement. This issue brief highlights five key recommendations for leaders in the United States and abroad to help shape the way for its successful implementation.

Democratic Transitions Latin America

The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center broadens understanding of regional transformations and delivers constructive, results-oriented solutions to inform how the public and private sectors can advance hemispheric prosperity.