María Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader, has emerged as a powerful force, mobilizing thousands to challenge President Nicolás Maduro's ruling party. Machado, stripped of her bodyguard, traverses the streets unprotected, climbing onto the windshield of her battered car, her makeshift stage, with supporters jostling to touch her.
She is not the presidential candidate, but the driving force behind Edmundo González, a little-known diplomat. Venezuela, once wealthy, now suffers from poverty and political repression.
President Maduro, who crushed protests and arrested dissidents, has contributed to political apathy and an exodus from the country. The decline in oil production and hyperinflation have had devastating consequences.
Venezuela is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world, and approximately seven million people, about a quarter of Venezuelans, have fled the crisis. As the election approaches, international leaders are calling on Maduro to respect the electoral process and accept the results.
The outcome of the election is uncertain, but Machado and González are determined to bring about a peaceful transition in Venezuela. Despite the challenges they face, the opposition is hopeful that change is possible and that Venezuela can once again become a prosperous and welcoming country.
