María Corina Machado’s unexpected return to Caracas after nearly a year in exile has jolted Venezuela’s political landscape, with the opposition leader and Nobel peace laureate saying she is prepared to meet the country’s interim president as the European Union cast the moment as a chance to push for free and fair elections.
Ms Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, made a surprise return home yesterday after nearly a year in exile.
“The return of opposition leaders and representatives contributes to a broader opening of political space in Venezuela,” EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said in a statement.
“We trust that the Venezuelan authorities and all political actors will seize this opportunity to advance an inclusive, Venezuelan-led dialogue towards free and fair elections,” he added.
Ms Machado said she is ready to meet the country’s interim president.
Thousands of people gathered in the capital to welcome Ms Machado
Touching down in Caracas yesterday, Ms Machado was greeted by jubilant supporters in what amounted to a direct challenge to the US-backed government.
Thousands of people lined highways, toll plazas and city streets, waving Venezuelan flags and shouting “liberty!” as she entered the capital in a convoy of cars and motorbikes.
Dressed in her familiar white T-shirt and blue jeans, she rose through a vehicle’s sunroof to wave at the crowd and reach down to shake hands with supporters.
In a sign she is seeking to open channels rather than simply escalate tensions, Ms Machado offered an olive branch to interim president Delcy Rodríguez, saying she was willing to hold talks with the woman who once served as deputy to her nemesis, president Nicolas Maduro, before his capture by the US.
Ms Machado “has expressed her willingness to sit down not only with Delcy (Rodríguez), but with whoever she has to sit down with, before the country, with total transparency, and with an agenda,” Claudia Macero, her spokesperson, told local radio Union Radio.
The homecoming places Venezuela’s most influential opposition figure back at the centre of the country’s turbulent politics.
“Maria, if you come back, my daughter has to come back,” a supporter yelled, invoking the plight of millions of Venezuelans who have fled repression and a moribund economy.
Ms Machado gifted US President Donald Trump her Nobel medal
Ms Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize last year after spending nearly a year in hiding.
Since then, the 59-year-old had tried at least seven times to return to Venezuela without success, according to sources in her party.
She is now returning to a Venezuela transformed by a stunning turn of events: nine months ago, Mr Maduro was captured in an extraordinary US military operation and later jailed in the United States.
But to the democratic opposition’s dismay, his deputy Ms Rodriguez assumed power as interim president, with Washington’s blessing.
From exile in Panama, Ms Machado has watched US-backed negotiations over a political transition move forward without her at the table.
The interim government has pledged elections, but has yet to announce a date.
Ms Machado has repeatedly lauded US President Donald Trump for ordering the high-risk operation and has even presented him with the Nobel medal she received.
Mr Trump has repeatedly voiced approval of Ms Rodríguez as she meets key US demands, especially those tied to access to Venezuelan oil.
Delcy Rodríguez has granted Washington access to a huge chunk of Venezuela crude reserves
President Trump said yesterday he was not aware of Ms Machado’s return, adding: “but I think she’s a very nice woman.
“She gave me her Nobel prize, so how can I say anything else?
“We’re doing very well in Venezuela.”
Last week, thousands rallied in Caracas and other cities calling for Ms Machado’s return and for elections to be held.
In recent weeks, many leaders from her Vente Venezuela party have also come back from exile, which followed a post-election purge that left 28 dead and led to more than 2,400 arrests, including dozens of Ms Machado’s associates.
Her party is pressing for elections in 2027 and for Ms Machado to be permitted to run, unlike the last presidential vote.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, yet output remains at about one million barrels of crude per day — well below the three million it averaged decades ago — after years marked by corruption and poor management.
Ms Rodríguez has granted Washington access to a huge chunk of the country’s crude reserves and has signed deals with foreign companies to explore for, produce and export oil and gas.
