Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado came home on Sunday after more than 10 months outside the country, posting on X that she was back with her people.
The big picture: Machado was photographed at Mass in Lara state surrounded by supporters, then travelled to the capital in a caravan as crowds lined the route. She entered Caracas late Sunday leaning out of a car sunroof.
- "Night of reunion in our Caracas. For the reunion of each family, for the Freedom of each political prisoner, for the Freedom of Venezuela," she wrote on X.
The backstory: Machado won an independent opposition primary in 2023 with more than 90% of the vote, then was barred from running on fraud and tax accusations she called politically motivated. She hid in safehouses before leaving by speedboat in December to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway.
- A month later US forces removed President Nicolas Maduro, who is jailed in New York on drugs, weapons and torture charges and has pleaded not guilty. His deputy Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as interim president with Washington's backing and later signed an oil deal on favourable US terms.
Zoom in: An adviser said in September that Machado had tried to return seven times in the preceding weeks and was denied each time. There were reports the US delayed her return, which it has denied.
What they're saying: Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited US-supported reconciliation talks that he said have already freed hundreds of political prisoners. Asked about her return, Trump said "I don't know anything about it" and added that he hoped she was safe.
Why it matters: Machado has said she would run for president again if an election were held, and her ally Edmundo Gonzalez says he will follow her home. Her return is the clearest test yet of whether Venezuela gets a verifiable vote.
