Maria Coriana Machado, the popular leader of the Venezuelan opposition and Nobel Peace Prize winner, announced her return to her country after more than 10 months in exile on Sunday morning via a message on the social media platform X.
Background of Machado's Return
Machado, who was briefly detained in January 2025 for protesting the swearing-in of Nicolás Maduro, the then-dictatorial president, subsequently went into hiding in Venezuela and appeared in Norway in December of that year. Since then, she has fought for the return of democracy to her country and has called for free and fair elections following the extraordinary U.S. military operation to capture Maduro.
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Reception of the Return
Social media pages of her political movement, Vente Venezuela, published images and videos of the reception of the Venezuelan people in the streets of Caracas. Reports indicate that Machado entered Venezuela through Colombia. Edmundo Gonzalez Oruña, another key opposition figure, also announced on social media on Sunday that Machado is "on Venezuelan soil" and will soon meet with her to "move our country towards true freedom."
Democratic Transition and Elections
Machado's return accelerates the democratic transition process in Venezuela, which the interim government of Venezuela, led by Delcy Rodríguez, and its observers in the United States have both promised to hold elections. Rodríguez, who was previously Maduro's deputy, and Donald Trump, the President of the United States, have both stated that elections will be held in the country, but a specific date for them has not yet been set.
Machado, 59, has called for elections to be held by July 2027 and told the Financial Times that there is "sufficient time" to prepare for the elections. She has also announced her intention to run in the presidential elections. According to a poll conducted by Atlantic and Bloomberg, the majority of the Venezuelan people want her presidency.
Challenges and Concerns
After Maduro's ousting, the Venezuelan Supreme Court announced that Rodríguez's appointment as interim president could last for 90 days, and the National Assembly may extend her term for another 90 days. However, the Assembly, which is controlled by the ruling party, did not vote to extend her term, and her official term ended in April.
It remains unclear how Machado can expedite the elections, especially as the Venezuelan government is in talks with another faction of the opposition supported by the United States. The third round of negotiations this month ended without reaching a specific electoral plan, and the Venezuelan people took to the streets to protest due to the delays.
Reactions to Machado's Return
The United States government has stated that the conditions that allowed Machado's return to Venezuela are "a direct result of reconciliation talks supported by the United States, resulting in the release of hundreds of political prisoners and the return of hundreds of opposition political figures to the country." However, it has also been noted that the United States expects no further interference in the ongoing negotiations.
Maria Coriana Machado had previously stated that despite not participating in negotiations between the Venezuelan government, legal opposition, and the United States, her movement would not create obstacles to real progress. The United States believes that Venezuela must ensure political and economic stability before holding elections, but critics argue that the Trump administration's approach has prioritized trade with Venezuela over facilitating a democratic transition.
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