Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado joined Florida International University’s (FIU) Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom in launching the Democracy Innovation lab.
Machado, who has been actively seeking to pressure Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro into accepting his defeat in the country’s last presidential elections, underscored the importance and necessity for FIU’s Democracy lab.
“This is a critical moment for Democracy not only in Venezuela but also for the Americas and the world,” said Machado, who expressed her belief that “the Truth” is the most valuable asset for combatting autocracies.
“Every authoritarian regime supports itself on lies,” continued Machado. “Yet the Truth, while at times difficult, is the only way to build trust among citizens. This is what has given us the legitimacy and the strength to continue fighting until we obtain freedom and Democracy in Venezuela.
Venezuela’s recent presidential elections have ushered in political instability as Maduro has persecuted dissidents challenging the validity of his presidency.
Venezuela’s elections follow failed negotiations between Venezuela’s government and President Joe Biden’s administration over electoral assurances in exchange for sanctions relief.
Despite promises of allowing free and fair elections, the Venezuelan regime barred opposition leader Machado from participating in the same.
However, Machado invested her political capital into former Venezuelan Ambassador Edmundo Gonzalez, who subsequently won the presidential elections.
Most recently, Gonzalez was forced to seek political asylum in Spain after the Maduro regime threatened to arrest him.
With this backdrop, former Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaido, alongside Adam Smith Center Director Carlos Diaz-Rosillo, led the Democracy lab’s presentation.
President Guaido explained the Democracy lab would instruct students on effective tactics to deter authoritarian consolidations of power.
Guaido told The Floridian that Venezuela’s fall into authoritarianism and Dictator Maduro’s political repression prompted the lab’s creation.
“Democracy is at risk across the world” said Guaido, “not only in Venezuela but in places where Democratic institutions are hijacked and free speech is curtailed.”
Guaido continued, explaining the Democracy lab would “not only alert of attacks on Democracies but also propose tools and means to combat undemocratic initiatives.”
The Democracy lab is the latest addition to FIU's Adam Smith Center's student opportunities.
The Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom emerged from efforts by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s state legislature to bolster Western democratic thought in higher education.
In 2023, DeSantis signed additional legislation to boost civic education centers in the state’s public universities.
The center has been growing steadily since it opened in 2021 – adding a Senior Leadership Fellows program, a magazine focused on “free-market system and democratic principles,” international events, and more.
