Crowds welcome Venezuela's María Machado after months in exile
The Venezuelan opposition leader spent more than 10 months in exile after escaping the country on a speedboat.
Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado returned to her homeland on Sunday after being away for several months. Her first public appearance in Venezuela since December took place at a church in Lara state, west of the capital, Caracas. Supporters greeted her arrival, with some clapping, embracing her, and sharing the moment on social media.
Machado expressed her gratitude by stating, "I am here. With you." Her return follows questions about Venezuela's political future, as no elections have been scheduled since former President Nicolas Maduro was removed by US forces in January. No official elections have been set since then, leaving the country in a state of uncertainty.
Machado's arrival comes as the US supports a stabilization process before new elections are held. US President Donald Trump expressed his hope for her safety and described her as "a very nice woman." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also acknowledged her safe return, stating that it resulted from US-backed reconciliation talks.
The US administration hopes that these talks will lead to free and fair elections and the establishment of a lasting democracy in Venezuela. The opposition leader's return highlights the opposition's role in Venezuela's political landscape, as Venezuelans await further clarity on the country's future elections.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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