Authors Boycott Hay Festival Over Invitation to Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado

The prestigious Hay Festival in Cartagena, Colombia, has become the center of a significant political and cultural controversy following the withdrawal of at least three authors. Their protest targets the festival's invitation to Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, María Corina Machado. The authors cite her support for aggressive US foreign policy towards Venezuela and her alignment with far-right regional leaders as irreconcilable with the festival's spirit, sparking a debate about the boundaries of free expression and the ethical responsibilities of cultural platforms.

The Core of the Controversy: Support for US Intervention

The primary reason for the authors' boycott, as detailed in their public statements, is Machado's unequivocal support for the foreign policy approach of former US President Donald Trump towards Venezuela. According to reports from The Guardian, Machado has publicly endorsed Trump's "pressure campaign" against the government of Nicolás Maduro, which she labels a dictatorship. More controversially, she has made comments in favor of a potential US military intervention in Venezuela, a stance the withdrawing authors find fundamentally unacceptable.

Authors Take a Stand

The boycott was initiated by acclaimed Colombian authors Laura Restrepo and Giuseppe Caputo, alongside Dominican writer and activist Mikaelah Drullard. In a powerful letter, Laura Restrepo, author of "Delirium," described Machado as "an active supporter of US military intervention in Latin America." Restrepo argued that providing a platform for such views legitimizes actions that "subject our peoples and undermine the sovereignty of our countries," stating that imperialist intervention is "not something to debate, but something to reject outright."

Giuseppe Caputo linked his withdrawal directly to recent geopolitical events, referencing deadly US airstrikes in the Caribbean Sea that border Cartagena. On social media, Caputo noted the irony of the festival being held "on the shores of the bombarded Caribbean Sea" while inviting someone who dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump, whom he called "the fascist responsible for these crimes."

Machado's Political Alliances and the Regional Context

The authors' protest also points to Machado's political alliances as a point of contention. Reports indicate she maintains close ties with far-right leaders in Latin America, including Argentina's Javier Milei and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro. Furthermore, she recently celebrated the election of ultra-conservative José Antonio Kast, an admirer of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, as Chile's next president. For the boycotting authors, these alliances position Machado far from being a consensus figure and instead align her with political movements they oppose.

Festival and Machado's Response

In response to the withdrawals, the Hay Festival issued a statement respecting the authors' decisions while reaffirming its commitment to open dialogue. The festival stated it believes the "free exchange of ideas and freedom of expression" are essential, clarifying that an invitation does not constitute an endorsement of a participant's political views. Machado's team, according to The Guardian, declined to comment on the protest. Her scheduled remote participation in a conversation with journalist Moisés Naím on January 30th remains on the festival program.

Broader Implications for Cultural Institutions

This incident transcends a single festival invitation, touching on the ongoing debate about the role of cultural institutions in politically charged environments. It forces a confrontation between the principle of hosting diverse viewpoints and the ethical consideration of platforming individuals whose advocated policies could have violent consequences. The authors' boycott represents a conscious choice to withhold their cultural capital from an event they believe inadvertently validates what they see as dangerous rhetoric.

The controversy also underscores the deep and painful political divisions within Latin America regarding Venezuela. While Machado is celebrated internationally by some as a symbol of resistance against Maduro, her strategies and alliances make her a polarizing figure at home and among intellectuals in the region who are wary of US hegemony and right-wing authoritarianism.

The boycott of the Hay Festival Cartagena by Laura Restrepo, Giuseppe Caputo, and Mikaelah Drullard is a significant political statement within the cultural sphere. It highlights the enduring tensions in Latin America over sovereignty, foreign intervention, and the ideological battles defining the region's future. As cultural festivals increasingly navigate complex geopolitical landscapes, this event serves as a poignant case study on the challenges of curating dialogue in an era of profound polarization, where the act of sharing a platform itself becomes a subject of intense scrutiny and protest.