Daring to Hope Once More

Many of my readers are aware that on Sunday, October 22^nd, 2023, self-identifying libertarian Javier Milei came in second place in the first round of Argentina’s presidential elections, qualifying him for the run-off next month on November 19^th. Far from a set-back, second place is actually a set-up for a starker contrast against Milei’s regime-embedded opponent, so next month Argentina — currently suffering an inflationary nightmare bordering on levels akin to Zimbabwe under President Robert Mugabe — may finally elect a professional Misesian economist and incumbent senator in the person of Javier Milei.

What fewer of my readers may know is that on this same Sunday, Venezuela held elections for the opposition to challenge the “permanent” president Nicolas Maduro. In this nationwide primary election, 2.4 million voters cast ballots, electing Maria Corina Machado by a margin of 93%. Machado, an engineer by profession, had served in Venezuela’s National Assembly back in 2014 but had kept a low public profile ever since.

Machado identifies as liberal closer to the brand of “classical liberal,” embracing free market policies and greater democratization within government. In a country which has endured hardcore socialism for a quarter of a century, Machado is the next best thing to a libertarian which the electorate could accept. The problem in Venezuela, however, is not what the electorate will accept, but what the lifelong president will, which is why Maduro has declared this primary illegal and Machado “disqualified” to run against him in 2024 (imagine that, a sitting president disqualifying his political rival… it’s good to be the king!). At least Maduro has not yet suicided Machado, which in Venezuela is the equivalent to a sincere compliment.

Since Venezuela’s hellish descent into Chavism twenty-four years ago, approximately 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the country, dispersing to all corners of the globe. Despite the distance now separating them, theirs is a fairly tight-knit community, and slowly they are daring to take a chance again on hope itself. Inspired by the success of Javier Milei’s presidential candidacy in Argentina, Venezuelan ex-patriots there like Henry Ortiz have established relations with Milei’s party, La Libertad Avanza, with an eye to create an extension thereof in their home country, which will work in collaboration with Machado’s government towards a freer, happier, more prosperous Venezuela.