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Machado: Why I must return to Venezuela — and the people must vote

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On January 3, President Trump changed our history: Nicolás Maduro, head of the criminal structure that held Venezuela hostage for nearly three decades, was captured and brought to justice. What many thought impossible happened.

Since then, our countries have had a historic opportunity: dismantle cartels, roll back Cuban, Russian, Iranian and Chinese influence, build an energy partnership, and bring millions home.

We are determined to seize it, knowing that for this process to succeed, one force must be fully engaged: the Venezuelan people.

Venezuela is not Iraq or Afghanistan. We are a cohesive society without deep ethnic or religious divisions. We once had Latin America’s most stable democracy and vibrant economy. We lost both to a criminal socialist regime. The result was misery, violence, Tren de Aragua, Cartel de los Soles and our hemisphere’s largest migration crisis.

That regime still retains much power. If pressure eases while it holds de facto control, it will return to its old methods.

Venezuelans want our children home, a bright future and a lasting US alliance based on common values. Millions abroad will return only with a clear path toward democratic transition. Only an elected government can provide that confidence.

Russia’s Lavrov blasts US, Western allies as ‘warmongers’ in fiery UN tirade

Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez dishes on her ‘historic meeting’ with Trump 

Nicolás Maduro’s billionaire ‘bagman’ ally Alex Saab to plead guilty in federal money laundering case

That is what we voted for on July 28, 2024. Maduro censored the media, barred me from running and imprisoned my team. But Venezuelans organized, voted, verified the results and........

© New York Post