Machado appeared alongside Edmundo González, their raised hands signaling unity at a time when fragmentation has long been Venezuela’s curse. González has been recognized by Washington and several allies as the country’s legitimate president, a position that carries diplomatic weight even as its practical reach remains uncertain. Machado, once erased from the race, now stands amplified—yet still constrained by the realities on the ground.
A prospective transitional leadership would face immediate tests: whether reconciliation can proceed without vengeance; whether former regime supporters can be reintegrated into civic life without reigniting conflict; and whether institutions hollowed out by years of pressure can be stabilized rather than replaced by new forms of exclusion.
Beyond politics, there are harder constraints. Streets restless with expectation. An economy deeply damaged. And powerful military and security figures whose loyalties cannot be assumed. In Venezuela, legitimacy has often failed not at the ballot, but in the space between promise and enforcement.
For millions, this moment holds both promise and peril. Success could mark the beginning of repair—slow, imperfect, and demanding restraint. Failure could deepen instability and fracture what remains of social trust. Continue reading…
