Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado returns from exile

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkVenezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado arrives at a church in Lara, Venezuela on October 25, 2026 [Vente Venezuela Press/Reuters]By Al Jazeera Staff and APPublished On 25 Oct 202625 Oct 2026Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has successfully returned to the country after more than 10 months in exile.Machado announced her arrival on social media on Sunday, writing, “I am here. With you.”Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3How is the US-Israeli war on Iran causing havoc in Europe?list 2 of 3Eight killed in Gaza as Israel targets university campus and other siteslist 3 of 3Thousands mourn victims of deadly Jordan church attackend of listThe current opposition leader, Edmundo Gonzalez, confirmed the news, writing on X that “our leader, my dear Maria Corina, is on Venezuelan soil”.The Comando Con Venezuela political organisation shared footage of Machado arriving at a church in Lara, where she was greeted by supporters.Machado first disappeared from public life after being briefly arrested in January 2025. She re-emerged last December in Norway, where she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to challenge Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro was abducted from Caracas by the United States military in January 2026.Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has stood in as acting president since then, with the endorsement of US President Donald Trump, and has cooperated with his administration regarding reforms in the country, as well as a deal to grant the US control of over 65 billion barrels’ worth of Venezuela’s oil reserves.Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela, addresses the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City on September 23, 2026 [Frank Franklin/AP]Calls for elections to be heldRodriguez’s presidency has extended far beyond the 90-day period she was authorised to serve following Maduro’s removal. But she has yet to call an election despite public demand and despite her promise to do so at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The US maintains that the country is not ready yet.Earlier this week, thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets to call for elections in the first nationwide opposition protest in nearly two years.Demonstrators hold up a sign supporting opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in Caracas, Venezuela on October 22, 2026 [Jesus Vargas/Getty Images]Although the opposition is widely believed to have won Venezuela’s disputed 2024 elections, Trump has cast doubt on Machado’s abilities to lead, claiming in January that she “doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country”.Machado presented Trump with her Nobel medal when visiting him in the White House weeks later, in what she said was “a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom”. The US leader has repeatedly voiced his desire to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize himself.Machado has made previous unsuccessful attempts to enter Venezuela. In September, her team said she had made seven attempts in the space of a few weeks.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X that “the conditions allowing for the safe return of Ms. Machado to Venezuela is the direct result of the U.S. supported reconciliation talks which has already seen hundreds of political prisoners freed and hundreds of political opposition figures return from exile.”Asked to comment about Machado’s return, Trump told reporters on Sunday, “I don’t know anything about it, but I think she’s a very nice woman.”“She gave me her Nobel Prize, so how can I say anything else? And I hope she’s safe.”