Welcome to Hard Talk from the BBC World Service with me, Sarah Montague.

Venezuela's presidential election this weekend could see Nicolas Maduro voted out after more than a decade of his authoritarian socialist rule.

At least that's according to the polls, which put the opposition coalition 20 points ahead.

My guest today, Maria Carina Machado, should have been their candidate,

but as institutions loyal to the government have blocked her from standing, she backed the relatively

unknown retired diplomat, Edmundo Gonzalez, to stand in her place. With the country's economy

and ruins, and more than a quarter of the population having fled,

could the next few days change the fortunes of this oil-rich but very troubled nation?

Maria Corina Machado in Caracas, welcome to Hard Talk.

Thank you very much. Can your coalition win this election?

Absolutely, yes. We have never before have so much strength, support all over the

country and organization to defend every single vote next Sunday. If your coalition does win it,

what role will you have in the new government?

Well, that is for the next president to say, but it is important that everybody knows that we are a team, we're working together, trust each other.

And I will be serving my country all the way in this transition process until we can build up

strong democratic institutions in Venezuela.

Edmundo Gonzalez, the candidate, has said she will have whatever role she desires in the

government.

So what is the role you want?

I think it is too early to say we are living day by day.

First of all, we're concentrated in this huge, unique, epic event

that will change not only the history of Venezuela but the whole region.

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