Portrait of María Corina Machado
Politician · person
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María Corina Machado on Joe Biden

Critic of engagement (strong)

TL;DR

María Corina Machado's political allies strongly criticized the Biden administration for relaxing sanctions on the Maduro regime, viewing it as appeasement.

Key Points

  • Her allies called on the sitting president to immediately reimpose sanctions following the regime's use of sanctions relief to replenish its coffers.

  • U.S. Senators asserted that the regime violated the Barbados agreement by upholding the electoral disqualification of her, the opposition's primary winner.

  • She stated her intent to be president when the time comes, asserting that the decision rests with the Venezuelan people, not external actors.

Summary

María Corina Machado, the primary opposition leader in Venezuela, has been the subject of criticism from her political allies regarding the policy decisions made by the administration of President Joe Biden. Specifically, the easing of sanctions on the Maduro regime following the Barbados agreement drew sharp rebuke from her supporters, who viewed the move as appeasement that empowered the ruling government rather than holding it accountable. Machado herself has affirmed that the Venezuelan people chose her as their candidate and that she will eventually be president when the time comes, implicitly rejecting any external dealings that might sideline her democratic mandate.

Her allies, including several U.S. Senators, explicitly urged the sitting president to immediately reimpose sanctions, arguing that the regime had violated the electoral roadmap by disqualifying Machado and continuing repression. This perspective suggested a contrast between the approach taken by the Biden administration and that of the preceding Trump administration, which was perceived as being more confrontational toward the Venezuelan government. The core implication of this stance is that continued pressure, rather than engagement with the current regime, is necessary to achieve free and fair elections sought by the opposition.

Frequently Asked Questions

María Corina Machado's political allies have strongly criticized the Biden administration's policy of easing sanctions on the Maduro regime. They argued that this move was appeasement and further empowered the oppressive government rather than supporting the democratic opposition. She has maintained that the people of Venezuela selected her as their representative.

The available evidence suggests that Machado and her political allies were highly critical of the Biden administration's approach, particularly the lifting of sanctions after the Barbados agreement. They specifically urged the president to reverse this policy, viewing it as a failure to hold the regime accountable for subverting democracy.

In a letter dated January 30, 2024, U.S. Senators urged President Biden to immediately reimpose sanctions that were relaxed under the Barbados agreement. They specifically cited the regime's upholding of the electoral disqualification of Machado as a violation of the agreed-upon roadmap for free elections.