“2019 will be the year of the liberation”

For the Saturday Juan Guaidó has called for new mass protests in Venezuela. The leading opposition politician María Corina Machado is in the DW-Interview confident that the Maduro government is at the end.

Deutsche Welle: How long will Nicolás Maduro still in Power? Days, weeks, or months?

María Corina Machado: It’s over in the Moment, it is for Maduro and his followers find it more expensive to stay than go. As long as Maduro remains in Power, is not measured, in my opinion, in days, weeks, or months, but in terms of the number of the dead. This urgency is a need to understand the world. Every day, Venezuelans are dying of Hunger, drugs, lack of or by the violence of the government.

But the military, which is key in conflict, holds more firmly to Maduro.

No, the majority of the Venezuelan military rejects Nicolás Maduro. The military knows much better than any other in Venezuela, in which the mafia system we live in now. The military knows that those who do not participate in illegal activities, come home to an empty fridge. And the military also knows that it is ill-equipped, poorly trained and poorly paid. The soldiers suffering in the same way as the Venezuelan population.

Abroad, especially the US, is trying to pressure the military to change sides and join the self-transition President Juan called to join Guaidó. What could, or countries such as Germany should do?

Very much. In Europe, many might think, Venezuela, in the way, and what happens there has no impact on Europe. But organized crime, money laundering and illegal transactions have the. They are also jeopardising the European democracies and the security of the West. The countries in Europe need to understand Maduro that his time has expired, a country like Germany, which has experienced the tragedy of totalitarianism. Germany has a great moral authority, not only as the leading power in Europe, but also in the entire West.

They reject the Maduro government completely. Would you say, his predecessor, Hugo Chávez has done with his Bolivarian Revolution is all wrong?

Hugo Chávez has driven the split in Venezuelan society, democratic institutions destroyed and criminal networks in the country left. He has promoted the biggest impoverishment in the history of Venezuela, and to Nicolás Maduro as his successor. And when all the cards are on the table, we see that he was the main responsible for the with $ 600 million in the largest looting in the history of the world.

Could imagine a candidacy in presidential elections: María Corina Machado

About 20 percent of Venezuelans are still completely disagree with that. How to integrate the Chavistas in the future politics and society of Venezuela?

It every day less and less. Look, a lot of people have alone, afraid, in an opinion poll. Because to get a bag with food that is sometimes the Only thing that has a family that depends on the loyalty to the Regime. If the Regime has not, therefore, suspect that you are agree with the System, you will be denied these bags with food. Therefore, I am sure that today in Venezuela, much less than 20 percent identified with the System.

What is the Integration is concerned: It is our duty for the future of Venezuela, and every Venezuelan, to integrate different its ideas may be, to initiate a process of reconciliation. But first there must be justice. We do not want revenge, but also no impunity. Only if there is repentance and righteousness, there can also be reconciliation and forgiveness.

Would you support a President Guaidó?

I have said from the first day that Juan Guaidó his duty and his responsibility, as he has appointed, through the application of article 233 of the interim President. The next step is a transitional government, which is facing huge challenges, namely an economic crisis, a humanitarian disaster and a crisis of internal security has to be dealt with. Juan Guaidó is there any support to good use, because this must be a transitional government with broad citizen participation, including those who have supported Maduro and Chávez. But the transitional government has to create at the end of the necessary conditions for free and secure elections.

That is, in the case of presidential elections, the cards are shuffled again. How would you describe your relationship to Guaidó?

Juan and I met in the national Assembly, as we were both members of Congress. We were in the same group of Independents. Impressed me, above all, his courage. Juan knows this I have always declared publicly that he can count on me to make this way of Venezuela in the future. We will let the 20 dark years of socialism behind us, a socialism that has not worked here and nowhere else in the world.

How likely is it that a María Corina Machado, Leopoldo López, Antonio Ledezma and Juan Guaidó work together in a Team?

We are already working together in this Moment and we will continue to do so. But it is obvious that there is between us and ideological differences. I would like to see a Venezuela in which these differences in a respectful and open way will be played.

2019 could be crucial for Venezuela’s future. What you will read about this year later in the history books?

2019 will be remembered as the year of the liberation of Venezuela in the history books. The mafia-like System with the face of Maduro at the top will collapse, the System that has brought the country only corruption, poverty and death. Venezuela will leave this time behind, and in a Phase of the Right to growth, to freedom of development and freedom.

And if so, what would be a Negative scenario for 2019?

The Negative scenario would be that we still need to wait until the end of the year.

María Corina Machado is a founder of the liberal party Vente Venezuela and is regarded as the most influential opposition politician in Venezuela

The Interview was conducted by Oliver Pieper


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