Maria Corina Machado has returned to Venezuela from exile, praising Donald Trump’s administration for opening what she called a “floodgate to freedom” after the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro in January, while urging elections to be held in 2027.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate made the comments in Caracas on Thursday, in her first public remarks since coming back to the country after more than 10 months away. She said she had returned to “mobilise society”.
Machado credited Mr Trump, his administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio with creating the conditions for a democratic transition.
“Thanks to their vision, their courage, and their action on January 3, the floodgate to freedom has been opened,” she told a news conference.
She said Mr Rubio had established a process “aimed at moving toward a democratic transition that makes clear the holding of presidential elections in 2027”.
Machado fled Venezuela for Oslo in December to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. US special forces veterans working with the organisation Grey Bull Rescue helped her escape by boat after she spent a year in hiding from Maduro’s regime.
Since Maduro’s abduction, Venezuela has been ruled by his former vice-president, Delcy Rodriguez. Machado was greeted by cheering supporters during a motorcade after returning on Sunday, although Ms Rodriguez voiced her displeasure at the reception.
“The show could have been avoided – the airports are right here,” Ms Rodriguez said on state television.
Machado said she had received no message from Ms Rodriguez or from Washington when asked whether she might meet the Venezuelan leader. Shortly before Machado spoke, Ms Rodriguez said elections would take place “with the world as witness”, but gave no date.
Machado criticises Venezuelan oil agreement
Machado’s return comes weeks after a controversial US oil agreement under which Venezuela is due to hand over 20 per cent of its vast oil reserves.
“This agreement does not reflect the levels of transparency that Venezuelan society wants,” she said.
