María Corina Machado Returns To Venezuela After More Than 10 Months In Exile

Machado returns to lead

María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela after more than 10 months in exile, and she began a road trip toward Caracas after her first public appearance at the sanctuary of the Divina Pastora in the state of Lara.

ABC described her itinerary with stops at the Guacara toll in Carabobo, the Palo Negro toll in Aragua, and the Valle-Coche highway already in Caracas, while AP said she returned for the first time since December and appeared inside a church in Barquisimeto.

AP reported that Machado announced her arrival on social media writing, "I am here. With you," and AP also quoted Edmundo González writing on X, "Our sovereign voice returns with her to lead and guide this process!"

González confirms4 of 9 outlets reported it · not in Boursorama and 4 more▾

ABC said the return occurred via Colombia, and it added that sources in the U.S. administration attributed a decisive role to Abelardo de la Espriella and said Christopher Landau internally advocated the need to facilitate the return.

ABC also said Trump chose to work with Delcy Rodríguez after Nicolás Maduro was removed by American forces on January 3, and it said Machado now had to contend for her place in a negotiating process organized around the National Assembly elected in 2015, headed by Dinorah Figuera.

Reporting for this sectionAP NewsABC

Trump, Rubio set terms

Donald Trump told reporters, "I don’t know anything about it, but I think she’s a very nice woman," and he added, "And I hope she’s safe," as Machado’s return drew crowds in Caracas.

Trump comment3 of 7 outlets reported it · not in Boursorama and 3 more▾

AP quoted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio writing on X that the conditions allowing for Machado’s safe return "is the direct result of the U.S. supported reconciliation talks," and AP added that Rubio said the United States expected the freedoms of all sectors of Venezuelan politics to continue to be respected.

ABC reported that Rubio avoided linking Machado’s return to a change in strategy when Trump reacted with kind words toward Machado, and it said Rubio’s statement placed the opposition leader under concrete pressure to support the conversations.

ABC also quoted Rubio saying, "We hope that all political actors support these conversations," and it said the statement did not announce a voting date while describing the talks as Venezuela’s best opportunity in thirty years to achieve peacefully free elections and a durable democracy.

AP said Brian Fonseca, a Venezuela expert and professor at Florida International University, described Machado’s arrival as politically motivated but also "very symbolic," adding that it could complicate Washington’s strategy and might be a sign of talks about elections.

Reporting for this sectionAP NewsABC

Transition stakes and next steps

El Mundo said Machado’s return aimed to actively contribute to a political change process in a stable, peaceful, and secure manner, and it quoted Pedro Urruchurtu saying, "María Corina Machado’s return has the purpose of actively contributing to this process advancing in a stable, peaceful, and secure manner," in a statement. El Mundo also said Machado hugged the leader and former political prisoner Biagio Pilieri to sing the national anthem "Gloria al Bravo Pueblo" during the caravan toward Caracas, and it described flags taking over the Autopista Regional del Centro. L'Express reported that Machado’s return was coordinated with the help of American, Colombian, and Panamanian authorities, and it said Trump told reporters he had not been informed of the event while hoping the interested party would be "a very kind woman" who he hoped would be "safe."

L'Express added that Machado’s party called for a presidential election in 2027, and it said interim president Delcy Rodríguez had assured that elections would be organized without specifying a date. Courrier international said Rubio reacted that the return was the "direct result" of the reconciliation process led under Washington’s auspices, while it also said Machado’s party is calling for a presidential election in 2027 and that Delcy Rodríguez has assured elections would be organized without specifying a date.

Reporting for this sectionEl MundoL'Express