April 2026, Volume 37, Issue 2
Venezuela has a path to democracy, but it requires dismantling the old regime. María Corina Machado, the country’s true democratic leader, must signal her credibility as a moderate through a framework of transitional justice. It won’t be perfect justice, but it is Venezuela’s best hope.
El país suramericano puede estar a punto de un cambio real. Pero no va a terminar en un caos de guerra civil como el de Libia. Será difícil, imperfecto y mucho mejor que lo que los venezolanos han tenido que aguantar.
Que la captura de Nicolás Maduro conduzca a la democracia depende de Donald Trump — y de la capacidad de María Corina Machado para hacer que un futuro democrático sea su única opción atractiva.
Whether the capture of Nicolás Maduro leads to democracy depends on Donald Trump — and María Corina Machado’s ability to make a democratic future the only attractive choice.
The South American country may be on the verge of real change. But it isn’t going to descend into civil-war chaos like Libya. It will be difficult, imperfect, and far better than what Venezuelans have had to endure.
