"I Am Here With You": Venezuelan Opposition Leader Returns From Exile

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado returned to Venezuela on Sunday for the first time since last December, amid growing doubts about the future of democracy in the country and the role of the United States, according to "Associated Press".

Machado announced her arrival via social media platforms, writing: "I am here with you".

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez confirmed Machado's arrival, writing on the platform "X" that he would be by her side "very soon".

Gonzalez added: "Today is a very important day for Venezuelans. Our sovereign voice returns with her to lead and guide this process," stressing that the struggle will continue until the end.

Machado's return came after more than 10 months spent in exile, during a new political phase following the US military's ouster of then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, approximately one month before her return.

Since Maduro's ouster, his long-time ally Delcy Rodriguez has served as acting president, backed by the administration of US President Donald Trump. However, Rodriguez has exceeded the period allowed for her to hold the position, while no date has been set for new presidential elections.

Machado had hidden inside Venezuela for 11 months, following her brief detention after a protest in January 2025. She then left the country in a covert operation and reappeared in December of the same year in Norway, where she received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her peaceful opposition to Maduro's government, which the agency described as authoritarian.

Machado and her allies demand the setting of a date for presidential elections in Venezuela, while US officials have emphasized the need to prioritize achieving economic stability.

Machado's return to the country highlights the future of the political process, amidst continued ambiguity regarding the election date and the direction the next phase will take.