Venezuela’s opportunity for reconciliation built on ‘truth’ and ‘transparency’

Over decades of repressive government, public opinion surveys in Venezuela became increasingly rare before they stopped entirely – because citizens were too afraid to answer honestly.But after the United States’ capture of President Nicolás Maduro in January, when pollsters ask Venezuelans whom they would vote for in elections, one name has consistently topped the list: María Corina Machado. This, despite the opposition leader having been out of direct contact with her fellow citizens for close to two years, while in hiding and exile.On Sunday, Ms. Machado returned home, announcing her surprise arrival with a brief post on the social platform X: “I am here. With you.” Almost immediately, thousands of Venezuelans poured into the streets and highways as she attended a church service near the western border, before traveling to the capital, Caracas. Their enthusiastic reception underscored the enduring aspiration for democratic liberty and dignity after decades of political repression, economic mismanagement, and corruption.“Our freedom has arrived,” one woman told a television reporter. “All paths are opening up for us, the future is opening up, we have a light,” another told Reuters.The government of interim President Delcy Rodríguez, Mr. Maduro’s former deputy, made no comment, nor did it interfere with her return. This was widely seen as following the lead of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who asserted that the conditions allowing for Ms. Machado’s return were “the direct result” of U.S.-supported transition talks between the government and a faction of the opposition. In preceding months, however, the U.S. had indicated reluctance over Ms. Machado’s possible return, fearing popular unrest and destabilization. Ms. Machado has countered such views. So have some regional observers, who believe she could offer a calming and conciliatory way forward, as the country seeks to emerge from economic crisis and is still reeling from June’s destructive earthquakes. “Given the fragility of the status quo and Machado’s strong popular support, her participation could provide a channel through which public demands are incorporated into the transition,” according to regional economist Alejandro Arreaza. And this could reduce the risk of political disorder, he wrote in Americas Quarterly on Monday. Just last week, thousands held marches across major cities, calling for a firm date for presidential elections. Deepen your worldviewwith Monitor Highlights.Politics with respectGet political stories with respectful analysis.There‘s a world of new ideas in everyBooks newsletter.There‘s more to life, enrich yours withCulture & Learning weekly.Follow humanity‘s discoveries withScience & Nature stories in your inbox.Gain a spiritual perspectivefrom the stories in your inbox.Want to understand the deeper impact of critical events? Learn the Monitor‘s insight.Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads. For the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, speaking up is not just about averting disorder, but about establishing a different civic order. As a first step, she plans to crisscross the country on a listening tour to hear what ordinary Venezuelans want and need.The impetus is “driven by values and virtues,” Ms. Machado told The New York Times this month. “It has to do with the truth, it has do with transparency. And it has to do with good.” ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LoginReal news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.The Christian Science Monitor was founded in 1908 to lift the standard of journalism and uplift humanity. We aim to “speak the truth in love.” Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions. Join us in this mission by subscribing.