María Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition figure, has returned to her country following an absence of over 10 months. She announced her arrival via social media on Sunday, stating “I am here. With you.” Her return marks a significant development in Venezuela’s political situation, as she was greeted by supporters throughout her journey to the capital Caracas.
Machado’s exile began in January after she departed Venezuela to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway. Her departure came amid heightened political tensions following the 2024 presidential election, in which the government’s electoral authority declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner despite opposition claims that their candidate, Edmundo González, had won. Maduro was subsequently removed from Venezuela by US forces in January and is now imprisoned in New York facing charges related to drugs, weapons, and torture, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Following Maduro’s removal, Delcy Rodríguez, his deputy, was backed by the Trump administration and sworn in as interim president. She subsequently signed an oil agreement with the United States on favorable terms for the American government. An advisor to Machado indicated that she had attempted to return to Venezuela seven times in recent weeks before being denied entry each time, though the US has denied involvement in these delays.
Machado’s ally, former presidential candidate Edmundo González, confirmed her arrival and stated he would join her in Venezuela soon to advance the country “toward freedom.” A spokesperson for Machado characterized her return as “a major step toward a democratic transition and free, fair, and verifiable presidential elections in the near future,” also thanking the US government and allied nations for their support. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attributed her safe return to American-supported reconciliation talks that have already resulted in the release of hundreds of political prisoners and the return of opposition figures from exile.
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