María Corina Machado, el desafío de volver

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado returned to the country on Sunday after nearly a year spent abroad. She announced her arrival on social media, stating, “I am here. With you.” Her first public appearance took place at a church in the Plaza del Pueblo de Santa Rosa in Lara state, where she was met by supporters. Edmundo Gonzalez, another prominent opposition figure, welcomed her return on X, noting it would help guide the country's political process.

Machado's return occurs amid uncertainty regarding Venezuela's democratic future, as no elections have been scheduled following the removal of former president Nicolas Maduro by US forces in January. El Pais noted that Machado, the country's best-valued leader, faced a choice between waiting for Washington's approval or forcing a return that risked her credibility.

The return has highlighted strained relations with the US administration under President Donald Trump. While Machado has sought to cultivate the US as an ally, Trump has repeatedly expressed support for interim President Delcy Rodriguez and praised US business ventures and oil deals in the country. Speaking at the White House on Sunday, Trump said he was unaware of Machado's return and suggested the US would continue to back Rodriguez, adding that the US had "total control" of Venezuela in an interview with Fox News.

Brief written by urgent.news from El Pais, Gulf News, The National Business, The National UAE, Jerusalem Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.