María Corina Machado Plans Return to Venezuela, Eyes New Elections

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado announced on Sunday her intention to return to Venezuela in the coming weeks, signaling a renewed push for elections in the South American nation.

Machado did not specify a return date but stated her objective is to prepare “for a new and gigantic electoral victory.” She urged her supporters to “strengthen the unity of Venezuelans that began with the primaries,” referencing the 2023 process where she secured the opposition’s nomination to challenge President Nicolás Maduro [1].

Political Landscape Shifts After Maduro’s Capture

The announcement follows a significant shift in Venezuela’s political landscape. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has warned Machado that she “will have to answer” for her actions if she returns to the country, [4]. This comes after Maduro and his wife were reportedly captured in a U.S. Military operation in January.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated that any change in Venezuela will require phases of stabilization, economic recovery, and transition, but has not signaled immediate plans for elections [4].

Nobel Prize and Controversial Medal Presentation

Machado, 58, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her dedication to achieving a peaceful democratic transition in Venezuela [1]. She has been a prominent figure in the Venezuelan opposition for years, advocating against the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), which has been in power since the late 1990s [2].

In a controversial move, Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump following the military intervention that led to Maduro’s capture. Maduro currently faces drug-trafficking-related charges in U.S. Courts, where he has pleaded not guilty.

Disputed 2024 Election and Opposition Claims

Following the July 2024 elections, which Maduro was declared the victor of, widespread protests erupted, met with significant repression. The opposition maintains it possesses credible evidence that Edmundo González, who replaced Machado after she was barred from running, was the true winner [3].