2005: Maria Machado Met with President Bush and Received More U.S. Funding                           

In 2002, Maria Machado was a co-founder and became Executive Director of a NGO, Sumate, which received grants from the U.S. congressionally-funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED). In 2004, Machado used NED funds to run an unsuccessful “recall” referendum to remove President Hugo Chavez from Office. She was indicted for treason for using funds from a foreign government for conducting an election campaign in Venezuela.  

Even though their Presidencies overlapped 2001-2005, Hugo Chavez had never been invited by Bush for a Meeting at the White House. Bush had also never met with Venezuela’s Ambassador.

In 2005, Maria Machado was invited by Bush for a Meeting. On May 31, 2005, Machado had a 50-minute meeting with President Bush in the White House.

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez called the meeting a “provocation” which proves that Sumate “is a mere agent of the US government and plays a key role in the U.S.’s strategy of intervening in Venezuelan affairs.” [2]

Minister of Justice Jesse Chacon said that “eyes were opened in Venezuela” and added that “now no one has any doubts about the alliance between Sumate and the Bush Administration” and that “Machado is simply a playing card of the U.S.” [2]

Larry Birns, the Director of Council for Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) said that the White House meeting was clear evidence that the Bush administration had no intentions of establishing constructive relations with Venezuela. [2]

It was not illegal for Venezuelan NGOs to receive funds from foreign governments. The New York Times described how Machado openly acknowledged the U.S. funding: 

·       “Ms. Machado does not hide her close relations with Washington, which has provided financial aid to Sumate, the anti-Chavez election-monitoring organization she helps run. In May, she infuriated the government when she met with President Bush at the White House, and she further antagonized officials in September by announcing that Sumate had received a fresh infusion of $107,000 from Washington.”[1]



1.     New York Times, Venezuela’s best-loved, or maybe most-hated citizen,” November 19, 2005

2.     Wagner, S., Venezuelan Opposition Leader’s Meeting with Bush Stirs up Controversy, Venezuelanalysis, June 3, 2005.

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