Maduro can be defeated by the Venezuelan people and the clout of the international community | Opinion

Venezuela once again is making headlines around the world, following dictator Nicolás Maduro’s threat to launch a military invasion of the Guyana-held region of Esequibo. But we should not lose sight of the Venezuelan people’s odyssey to regain our democracy at home.

Like Odysseus, we Venezuelans have braved storms and overcome trials to be able to reunite again with, and within, our country. Venezuelans have endured hunger, persecution, torture and systematic violations of our human rights. But like the hero, Venezuelans have never stopped insisting.

The first challenge we overcame was to reunify the opposition and carry out a successful primary election in October. In a hostile environment, many more people turned out to vote than the dictatorship thought possible. The primary mobilized more than 2.5 million citizens committed to changing in our country. Despite internal and external sabotage attempts, the regime could not stop citizens from going to the polls, which once again showed the Venezuelan people’s strength and determination.

There are many battles in progress. The next test will be enforcing a deal with Maduro that was recently reached with the help of Norway and the support of the United States. The agreement seeks to enable banned opposition candidate María Corina Machado to run for office.

However, our hope cannot only rely on the Maduro dictatorship. The international community has the duty to demand strict compliance with what was agreed, including that the regime set a date for the elections in 2024. The absence of a precise date and the lack of the necessary conditions have become Maduro’s negotiation cards, and he shouldn’t be allowed to use them.

All polls indicate that Maduro would lose a free election. The global energy crisis highlights the paradox of Venezuela, an oil-rich country mired in the chaos of poverty. Maduro’s negligent and corrupt management has ruined a nation with vast oil reserves.

Given this reality, it should be noted that only a democratic Venezuela would become a reliable energy supplier in the hemisphere. The option of normalizing relations with the regime would only increase instability in an already-troubled world.

And in an already-complex international scenario, we shouldn’t forget that Maduro is a close ally of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and that while Putin continues his war in Ukraine, Maduro remains linked to terrorist actions against Israel.

Her e are some necessary actions to restore democracy in Venezuela:

▪ Focus on the basics. We have accomplished an extraordinary feat — we have opposition unity. But the defense of the vote cannot wait, along with the registration of new voters, the participation of millions of Venezuelans abroad and a unity campaign led by the candidate. We all can — and must — contribute to moving in that direction.

▪ Leadership of María Corina Machado. She faces the challenge of becoming the leader of the opposition, calling on all sectors to unite, with a sense of openness, transcendence and common purpose.

▪ Overcome the temptation of Plan B. The traditional opposition must abandon the siren songs and stop thinking about alternatives to Machado’s leadership. It should support and protect the legitimately elected candidate. There should be a single message and a single call to action: Vote — and defend the vote — in the 2024 elections.

▪ International action. The international community, led by the United States, must step up its support. The current tools must be complemented with adequate incentives for Maduro to comply with the agreement without impunity, completely ruling out the lifting of sanctions if he fails to comply with what was signed in Barbados. It would be a bad message not only to Maduro, but also to all his antidemocratic allies in the world.

▪ Citizen empowerment. Venezuelan society must feel empowered. The resistance is not the result of chance, but the result of years of democratic struggle. New hope arises from the fact that we have survived — and not given up.

▪ End the alliance of the elites. The elites must put themselves at the service of democracy and not give in to the feeling that they can be safer if they are close to those who have usurped power in Venezuela.

▪ The armed forces. At this crucial moment, the best decision for the armed forces is not to intervene. Allow Venezuelans to express themselves, and respect their decision in the 2024 elections. They only have to accompany the people in their desire for change.

In the democratic odyssey we face, hope persists. Victory is within reach, if we maintain our determination and face the challenges ahead together. Venezuelan democracy has weathered the storm and now, more than ever, we must keep the flame burning. The desire for the freedom of our people is the force that will guide us to victory over the Maduro dictatorship.

Returning home is possible if we all meet our own, and collective, challenges. In my case, I will continue to serve Venezuela and the legitimate unity candidacy to defeat Maduro.

Juan Guaidó was Venezuela’s opposition leader as president of the National Assembly. He lives in Miami.