Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado Returns Home After Year in Exile

Maria Corina Machado, the Nobel Peace Prize‑winning opposition leader, returned to Venezuela on Sunday after nearly a year of exile. The return followed several failed attempts to re-enter the country, which had strained her relationship with the U. S. administration of former President Donald Trump. Machado posted on social media, “I’m here. With you all,” and appeared at a church in western Lara state. Bystanders greeted her with the national anthem and shouted “liberty!” as she departed in an SUV. Her return marks a significant moment for Venezuela’s opposition movement, which has been sidelined by the Maduro regime. The event underscores the ongoing tensions between Venezuelan political factions and the United States, and it may prompt a reassessment of U. S. policy toward the country.