Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado has returned to the South American country after nearly a year abroad, former opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González announced on Sunday.“Venezuela! I am thrilled to announce to you that our leader, my dear Maria Corina, is on Venezuelan soil. Today is a very important day for Venezuelans. Our sovereign voice returns with her to lead and guide this process!” González posted in Spanish on X.“Very soon I will be with you and with her so that our country truly advances toward freedom. You know it, this is until the end,” he added.
González's announcement came in response to a cryptic post by Machado, who wrote: “I am here.
With you.”Machado’s return to Venezuela comes nine months after a US military operation in January that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken to the United States to face federal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, and weapons-related offences.Both have pleaded not guilty.Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, assumed office as interim president following his removal from power. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly voiced support for Rodríguez and welcomed deals involving oil production and other business ventures by US companies in Venezuela.In September, Trump said it was “too soon” to consider holding democratic elections in Venezuela.(With Reuters inputs)