LIMA, Peru – Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, announced this Sunday that she will return to Venezuela “in a few weeks” to consolidate what she described as an orderly and sustainable democratic transition, after spending around 80 days outside the country.
In a video broadcast on their social networks From the United States, Machado detailed his recent political and diplomatic agenda and thanked President Donald Trump for bringing dictator Nicolás Maduro “to face international justice.”
“Dear Venezuelans, we have the strength, the route and the clear tasks. We are all necessary to achieve our Freedom. In a few weeks, we will see you in Venezuela,” reads a message from the opposition leader on X (formerly Twitter).
Machado assured that during his time outside Venezuela his “heart has been with every prisoner who has been released” and expressed solidarity with those who are still detained for political reasons, especially soldiers and students. In this regard, he insisted on the need for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in the country.
Likewise, the leader highlighted that she has held meetings with foreign governments, diplomatic delegations, officials of the Organization of American States and other international representatives during recent months.
«The regime that is in Venezuela today wants to buy time so that nothing changes. But everything changed,” he warned.
The message highlights three axes of his plan: the political unity that began with the primaries, a “great national agreement” with political and social organizations to guarantee governability, and preparation for what he described as “a new and gigantic electoral victory.”
“For all this I am going to return to Venezuela in a few weeks; I want to do it as hundreds and thousands of Venezuelan exiles around the world also wish. We will arrive to hug each other, to work together, to guarantee an orderly, sustainable and unstoppable transition to democracy,” he stated.
Machado reaffirmed that the political transition in Venezuela “is unstoppable today” and criticized the interim authorities, headed by Delcy Rodríguezfor having been part of the previous repressive apparatus.
On the other hand, Rodríguez has warned that the opposition leader could be imprisoned or face legal proceedings if she decides to return to the country, according to recent statements reproduced by international media.
In an interview with the US network CBS News at the beginning of February, Rodríguez maintained that Machado “would have to respond to Venezuela” if he returned, referring to possible legal actions against the opponent. Chavismo has accused Machado of requesting foreign military intervention and other conduct considered crimes under current legislation, a position that could complicate his entry into the country.
So far, no publicly announced formal charges have been specified, but the official warning intensifies the uncertainty about the fate of the opposition leader if she returns to Venezuela.
