Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado took to the streets across the country on Sunday, staging demonstrations to demand her safe return and the holding of presidential elections. These activists, who seek a democratic transition in Venezuela, argue that the current government has consistently stolen elections, jailed dissidents, and stifled freedom of speech. In the capital city of Caracas, hundreds of activists wearing sky blue shirts—the signature color of Machado’s Vente Venezuela party—rode motorcycles and drove through major avenues, honking their horns and waving Venezuelan flags. Similar protests were organized in various state capitals, including Valencia, Maracaibo, and Merida.
Addressing the crowd in Caracas, Vente Venezuela activist Flavio Valentini used a megaphone to rally the participants, stating, “This is not a matter of parties or politics. This is a movement for the people and by the people.” Anthony Romero, another leader for the party in the capital, added, “We hope this transition process leads us to presidential elections and consolidates a free, democratic country that will be the main ally of the United States.”
Machado has been living in exile for the past nine months, and her party reports that she has made seven unsuccessful attempts to return to Venezuela this year. Her team stated that on Monday night, the opposition leader made three of those attempts. In one instance, a company that chartered her boat canceled the trip hours before departure, claiming the vessel was unfit for navigation. In another attempt, her plane was denied landing permits when she tried to fly to Curacao to reach Venezuela by speedboat. While some critics have questioned whether the Trump administration is involved in these efforts to prevent her return, U.S. officials have denied holding her back, though they have acknowledged advising her against returning on certain occasions due to safety concerns.
The current political landscape in Venezuela remains volatile. The government is now led by Delcy Rodríguez, a Maduro ally who has opened the nation's oil industry to foreign investment and is working closely with the Trump administration. This follows a U.S. military operation in January that removed Nicolas Maduro from power. Maduro had previously claimed victory in elections and unleashed a violent crackdown against dissidents, forcing Machado and dozens of other opposition leaders into hiding. Last year, Machado smuggled herself out of Venezuela after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to restore democracy.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the situation in a recent news conference, stating that Machado has “every right to enter her country whenever she wants to return.” However, Rubio also noted that he was unaware of her most recent efforts to return. He further argued that before new elections can be held, Venezuela must stabilize its economy and rebuild its institutions, including its courts and electoral council. Rubio expressed a desire to see thousands of Venezuelans return to their country to “open the businesses that they lost.”
