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Nobel Peace Prize winner and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado returned to her home country on Sunday after nearly a year in exile, greeting cheering supporters at a church in Barquisimeto.
Appearing in her signature white T-shirt and jeans, Machado announced her arrival on social media, writing: “I am here. With you.”
Estoy aquí. Con ustedes
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) October 25, 2026
Her exiled ally Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia celebrated her return, stating, “Venezuela! I am thrilled to announce to you that our leader, my dear Maria Corina, is on Venezuelan soil.”
He added that he plans to join her soon to advance the nation toward democracy.
Machado’s return intensifies political pressure on interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who has governed under Washington’s oversight following the January removal of Nicolas Maduro by US forces.
After leaving Venezuela covertly in late 2025 to accept her Nobel Peace Prize, Machado spent months in Panama while authorities repeatedly blocked her return attempts.
Her party, Vente Venezuela, has organised mass demonstrations demanding immediate elections and the removal of political bans that previously barred Machado from seeking office.
Responding to news of her return, US President Donald Trump remarked, “I hope she’s safe. She’s a very nice woman. But we’re doing very well in Venezuela.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Washington-backed negotiations facilitated her entry, emphasising, “We expect all political actors to support these talks, which represent the best chance Venezuela has had in 30 years to peacefully achieve not just a free and fair election but an enduring democracy.”
Despite her exclusion from these ongoing diplomatic talks, opposition negotiators welcomed her return to Venezuelan soil.
