Venezuela elections: Meet María Corina Machado, the 'Iron Lady' slaying her way to challenge President Maduro
María Corina Machado is being compared to UK Conservative icon Margaret Thatcher
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, denounced by the western media as an 'autocrat' ruling the oil-rich South American nation since March 2013, is facing a formidable challenge in this Sunday's presidential elections. The challenge is from a little-known diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez. But the driving force behind Gonzalez's campaign is Maria Corina Machado, an industrial engineer-turned-politician who has remained a central figure in anti-Maduro protests amid Venezuelan hyperinflation in recent years.
Venezuelan opposition presidential candidateEdmundoGonzalez looks on during a campaign rally for the presidential election in Valencia, Carabobo State, Venezuela, July 13, 2024 | Reuters
A recent Machado profile in the New York Times paints a picture of remarkable popularity that Machado appears to helm over ahead of the presidential elections.
The elections on Sunday (July 28) will test her popularity.
Why Machado is not presidential candidate against Nicolas Maduro?
This is because Machado was barred from ballot in January after a high court ruling upheld a Maduro administration decision over her electoral exclusion due to alleged financial irregularities that occurred when she was a national legislator.
But as public pressure tightened the noose around Maduro administration for a free and fair elections, the government allowed Machado to nominate a different candidate. Edmundo Gonzalez became the consensus choice.
If the Opposition wins Sunday's elections, Gonzalez will be the president. But Machado is widely perceived to be the real power behind a potential Edmundo presidency.
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For Indian readers of WION, this will be akin to Sonia Gandhi-Dr Manmohan Singh arrangement during Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) government in India (2004-2014), when Dr Manmohan Singh was the prime minister but Sonia Gandhi was widely perceived to be the real power figure in and beyond New Delhi's corridors of power.
In an interview with New York Times, Machado said that she admires former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the conservative icon known for her fealty to the free market.
For her economic preference, Venezuelan journalists call her the country's "iron lady", much like Thatcher.
Machado is a mother of three adult children, all of whom live abroad.
(With inputs from agencies)