Madrid, Spain – Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has forged connections with Spain's conservative political forces while pointedly avoiding meetings with the country's left-wing government during a recent visit.
Machado declined an invitation to meet with Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was simultaneously hosting a summit of Latin American left-wing leaders in Barcelona. The Nobel Peace Prize winner explained her decision at a Madrid gathering, stating, "What has transpired in the past few hours at the meeting held in Barcelona with various political leaders from different countries is proof that such a meeting was not advisable."
Instead, the Venezuelan politician engaged extensively with Spain's conservative opposition. She received a warm reception from Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the center-right People's Party (PP), who praised her commitment to freedom despite personal risks. "Spain knows well the value of freedom; it cost us dearly to obtain it," Feijóo remarked. "The generations of our parents and grandparents know what it is to live without freedom. That is why we cannot look the other way."
Machado also met with Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the populist conservative leader of the Madrid region and a vocal critic of Sánchez, who presented her with Madrid's gold medal. Madrid's mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida of the PP, granted her the keys to the city before a rally with Venezuelan supporters. Additionally, she held discussions with Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party.
Despite these cordial interactions, analysts note significant differences between Machado and her Spanish counterparts. Carlos Malamud, a Latin America expert at Madrid's Real Elcano Institute, observed, "Machado is the leader of a small, disorganized opposition, while Feijóo is the head of the PP, which is a well-organized national political party." He further questioned her diplomatic approach, suggesting, "If Machado wants to be the president of Venezuela next year, she needs to be prepared to meet the head of the Spanish government, whoever that may be."
Ana Ayuso, a Latin American affairs researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, highlighted ideological alignments and divergences. "She is in favor of freedom of trade and a small state, so she is quite liberal on economic affairs like Feijóo," Ayuso explained. "However, she is more conservative when it comes to social issues. Machado is against abortion, and religious affairs are important to her. She is close to the Roman Catholic Church. Feijóo supports the right to abortion."
In a 2024 interview with Spanish newspaper El País, Machado clarified her stance, opposing abortion generally but supporting legal changes to allow it in cases of rape. Currently, Venezuelan law permits abortion only when the mother's or child's life is at risk, with violations carrying potential two-year prison sentences.
Malamud noted a unifying factor between Machado and Feijóo: both operate within highly polarized political systems. "Venezuelan politics is the same as Cuban politics, or like Spanish. They all suffer from the same degree of polarisation," he added.
Ayuso also pointed to Machado's shifting international alliances, noting her initial support for former U.S. President Donald Trump, who later distanced himself in favor of acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez. According to Ayuso, Machado has since aligned more closely with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who advocates for her cause within the MAGA movement.