Lord Hannan will speak to one of the bravest and most embattled politicians in the world, leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, María Corina Machado, this Tuesday via Zoom — and you’re invited to a front-row seat at this vital conversation.
This free online discussion offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from one of the most courageous figures in global politics.
Machado, widely regarded as the de facto leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, has continued to campaign from hiding after the regime of Nicolás Maduro intensified its crackdown on dissent following widely condemned and fraudulent presidential elections in 2024.
Lord Hannan explains:
“Since last year’s fraudulent election, Ms Machado has been in hiding. Nicolas Maduro’s police have cracked down on dissidents and several Venezuelan Democrats have disappeared. The UK does not recognise the 2024 Presidential election as legitimate, and Venezuela’s gold reserves in the Bank of England remain frozen. Ms Machado has not fled the country, but is continuing to campaign online from hidden locations. She agreed to speak with us via Zoom about the crisis in Venezuela, a crisis which continues to destabilise the entire Western hemisphere.”
Despite securing overwhelming grassroots support during opposition primaries, Ms Machado was barred from running in the election by the Venezuelan government. Since then, many of her allies have been imprisoned or forcibly disappeared, and international human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have raised alarms over the deepening repression.
The UK Government has refused to recognise the 2024 Venezuelan election results and continues to freeze Venezuela’s gold reserves held at the Bank of England, citing concerns over democratic legitimacy.
This is a crisis with global implications. Venezuela’s collapse has triggered the largest refugee crisis in the Western hemisphere and poses a direct challenge to the democratic order in Latin America.
María Corina Machado will address the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the political repression under Maduro, and the path forward for Venezuelans demanding democracy. She has remained in Venezuela despite the threat to her safety, communicating with the outside world from a secure and undisclosed location.
This 45-minute online event is free and open to all, providing rare, firsthand insight into the struggle for freedom in one of the world’s most embattled nations. Please join us.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, 6 May 2025
- Time: 15:00–15:45 BST
- Platform: Zoom
- Host: Lord Daniel Hannan
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85206325175?pwd=PLNwVNbwEWR94r2RakrE145Kb1QSyO.1
Meeting ID: 852 0632 5175
Passcode: 589338
Don’t miss this crucial conversation with one of the leading voices of resistance in Latin America.
Join us and stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela.
Main Image: Photo of María Corina Machado made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Credit: SantanaZ
