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An exclusive survey by The Economist published this Tuesday indicates that the most popular political figures in Venezuela, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, are Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and María Corina Machado.
The survey, conducted by the American firm Premise, shows a radical shift in the perception of Venezuelans towards international and opposition leadership.
According to the study, shared on social media by journalist Orlando Avendaño, Trump leads the popularity list by a wide margin, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and opposition leader María Corina Machado.
In fourth place is Edmundo González Urrutia, who was the unitary opposition candidate in the 2024 presidential elections.
The survey reflects the political impact of the U.S. military operation on January 3, which culminated in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in Caracas.
Although the start of the intervention generated fear among the population, data from The Economist indicates that the majority of Venezuelans feel relief and hope following the collapse of the Chavista regime.
“Seen from Caracas, the first minutes of January 3 were terrifying: bombs, helicopters, and confusion. But fear quickly turned into happiness,” the report from The Economist notes.
The publication claims that Venezuelans, even within the country, "are quite pleased with the dramatic turn of events."
Regarding the internal assessment, the survey highlights that Rubio and Machado are the politicians with the most solid and sustained favorability, particularly due to their active role in the transition and in shaping the democratic opposition.
Rubio, from Washington, has been one of the architects of the new U.S. policy toward Venezuela, while Machado remains a key figure in the civil reorganization process following the collapse of the Chavista regime.
Analysts interpret the outcome as a sign of a shifting political paradigm in Venezuela, where public trust appears to have shifted towards figures associated with institutional rebuilding and cooperation with the United States.
The survey also underscores the total loss of legitimacy of the Chavista apparatus and the consolidation of a narrative of democratic transition.
"For the first time in over two decades, the majority of Venezuelans express a positive view towards foreign leaders who have played a direct role in the downfall of Chavismo," the report concludes.
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