The Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, sent a message this Saturday to Cuban activist Rosa María Payá Acevedo, expressing her belief in a victory over Chavismo in the upcoming presidential elections and her hope for a similar democratic transition in Cuba.
"Dearest Rosa María: To you and the entire Cuba Decide movement, I want to say that very soon I know Cuba will be like us, on the verge of Freedom. Stay strong! I wish I could have you here to embrace you in Venezuela tomorrow, but I know we will soon welcome you in a liberated Venezuela. God bless," Machado stated in a video posted on her social media.
For her part, the Cuban activist and promoter of the civic initiative Cuba Decide responded to Machado, expressing her admiration for the Venezuelan people and the leadership Machado has shown in uniting all opposition forces against the regime of Nicolás Maduro.
"With you, with your love and courage for that Venezuela and those people who fill us all with admiration. That hug will travel from Caracas to Havana. With you on the threshold of freedom and until the end," Payá Acevedo wrote on the social network X.
Venezuelans Gear Up for Crucial Elections
As the polling stations were set to open, Machado took to her social media to leave an emotional message for Venezuelans.
"Dear Venezuelans, the day has come! We have been fighting for 25 years for this moment, and the moment is here," wrote Machado, encouraging her followers to participate in presidential elections that could change the course of the South American nation, which has been under Chavismo for over two decades.
The engineer Machado made three requests to the Venezuelan people to show unity during this electoral day: play the national anthem "Gloria al bravo pueblo" at 5:00 a.m. from homes and cell phones, connect at 1:00 p.m. to a live event through her social media to maintain communication and coordination among voters, and stay at the polling centers until 6:00 p.m. to ensure the transparency of the vote-counting process.
Machado emphasized that vote counting is a citizen's right and encouraged the population to supervise the process "ballot by ballot" to guarantee the integrity of the electoral result.
The political leader also urged people to ignore possible attempts by the Maduro regime to spread messages that could generate fear or confusion among voters.
"We will have lived through an epic day. We will have built the historic feat of our people. No one will have told us because each one of us will have been the protagonist of this story of freedom. Then it will be time to celebrate. God bless us!", she concluded.
At the end of October 2023, Machado thanked Payá Acevedo for her words following her victory in the Venezuelan opposition primaries.
"Hope won in Venezuela, and the Cubans are with her! #UntilTheEnd. With all those people who went out to vote for her to oust the dictators from power," said the Cuban activist.
Machado responded, "Dear Rosa María, you don't know how much your words move me. This victory and first step towards the defeat of tyranny comes with the commitment to contribute to the freedom of all peoples fighting for their democracy."
However, fearful of the momentum behind the leader of Vente Venezuela, the nation's Supreme Court disqualified Machado as a candidate for the elections, leading the opposition movement to choose Edmundo González as the candidate to face Maduro this Sunday.
Insights into Venezuela's Political Landscape
To provide a deeper understanding of the current political scenario in Venezuela, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
Why was María Corina Machado disqualified from the presidential race?
María Corina Machado was disqualified by the Supreme Court of Venezuela, which is seen as an attempt by the Maduro regime to stifle opposition and maintain power.
What are the key strategies Machado proposed for election day?
Machado suggested playing the national anthem at 5:00 a.m., connecting to a live event at 1:00 p.m., and staying at polling centers until 6:00 p.m. to ensure vote-counting transparency.