Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado returned to the country after 10 months in exile. Her return marks a significant step in the political transition and signals renewed opposition activity in the nation.
Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, left Venezuela in December 2025 to avoid arrest by the Maduro regime. She was smuggled out with U.S. assistance and faced travel restrictions and flight cancellations during her exile.
The U.S. supported her return through political reconciliation talks, which have already freed hundreds of political prisoners. The talks aim to secure a free and fair election in Venezuela.
Machado's return comes amid the U.S.-led ouster of Maduro, who is currently jailed in New York. The opposition claims the 2024 election was fraudulent, with Maduro's government declaring him the winner despite the lack of public voting tallies.