Venezuelas Machado Courts Spanish Right-Wing Politicians

Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Meets with Spanish Right-Wing Leaders

Madrid, Spain - Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader, met with leaders from the People’s Party (PP) and Vox party during a visit to Spain. The meetings took place on Friday and Saturday, as Machado chose not to attend an invitation to meet Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and left-wing coalition government officials.

Machado stated that she had decided not to attend the meeting due to concerns about the summit of left-wing leaders from Latin America in Barcelona. She instead held meetings with PP party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Vox leader Santiago Abascal, and Madrid regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso.

During her visit, Machado received a rapturous welcome from Venezuelan emigres in Madrid and was presented with the keys to the city by Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida. The opposition leader also met with other officials, including Diaz Ayuso, who is one of Sanchez’s fiercest critics.

Analysts note that while Machado and Feijoo share economic visions, they differ on social issues such as abortion. Machado has been dubbed Venezuela’s “Iron Lady” due to her conservative stance, but has also moved towards the center-ground during her presidential campaign.

Experts say that the structure of both opposition groups is different, with Machado leading a small and disorganized opposition and Feijoo heading a well-organized national political party. Carlos Malamud, an expert on Latin America at the Real Elcano Institute, stated that Machado’s decision not to meet Sanchez may be seen as a strategic move by the Venezuelan opposition.

Malamud noted that both Machado and Feijoo come from systems that have suffered from polarization, which unites them in their views. The meetings between Machado and Spanish right-wing leaders highlight the differences between her and other opposition figures, including Sanchez.

Source: Al Jazeera