Venezuela’s opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, has returned to the country following more than 10 months in exile. Her homecoming on Sunday followed national protests demanding free elections and came after previous unsuccessful entry attempts.
Machado announced her arrival on social media, while opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez confirmed that she was back on Venezuelan soil. Footage shared by the Comando Con Venezuela political organization showed her being greeted by supporters at a church in Lara. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that her safe return resulted from US-supported reconciliation talks that have led to freed political prisoners and returning opposition figures.
Machado originally disappeared from public life following a brief arrest in January 2025 before re-emerging in Norway, where she received the Nobel Peace Prize for challenging President Nicolas Maduro. Political upheaval in Venezuela followed Maduro's removal in January 2026, with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez serving as acting president. While Rodriguez previously promised to call an election during the United Nations General Assembly in September, public pressure and recent nationwide protests have intensified demands for a vote as the political transition continues.
