Miami, United States. – The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado It was included this year In the list of the 100 most influential people in the world prepared by the American magazine Time. His designation was accompanied by a brief profile written by the Secretary of State of the United States, the Cuban American Marco Rubio, who highlighted his firmness and commitment to democracy in Venezuela.
“María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan iron lady, is the personification of resilience, tenacity and patriotism,” Rubio wrote. “Unwavering in the face of formidable challenges, María Corina has never departed from her mission to fight for a free, fair and democratic Venezuela.”
Machado, 56, has been one of the most visible figures of the opposition to the regime of Nicolás Maduro. She was elected unitary candidate of the opposition in the primary of 2023. Despite the attempts of the regime to prevent her participation in the presidential elections of 2024, she has continued to mobilize her followers and denounce the authoritarian practices of Chavismo.
Rubio stressed that the leader has maintained the same governing principle since he met her more than a decade ago: “Leave her children Ana Corina, Ricardo, Henrique, and the children of Venezuela, a country free of tyranny.”
The profile highlights that “the phrase ‘until the end’ encapsulates its lasting legacy”, in reference to the motto with which Machado has led his campaigns and tours of the country.
During the last year, according to the text, its determination has been tested as never before. “He has bravely faced the efforts of the Maduro regime for undermining the will of the Venezuelan people,” says Rubio.
He also highlights his religious faith and leadership in the streets of the country: “A woman of faith that marks bravely by her homeland armed with the Holy Rosary and backed by innumerable brave Venezuelans, Machado has resisted everything, defending the land of Bolívar.”
The publication concludes describing it as a symbol for the region: “its leadership based on principle is a lighthouse of hope, which makes our region and our world a better place.”
The inclusion of machado in the influential list of Time It coincides with a crucial political moment in Venezuela. The opposition leader appears in the category of “leaders” with Presidents Donald Trump, Claudia Sheimbaum and Javier Milei, the magnate Elon Musk and the vice president of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, among other world -class figures.
