Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado vows fresh presidential bid, plans return from exile by end-2026

Venezuela’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado said on Saturday that she intends to run for president again and return to Venezuela before the end of 2026.

Speaking in Panama alongside fellow opposition figures, Machado reaffirmed her commitment to a democratic transition through “free and fair presidential elections” that would allow Venezuelans both inside and outside the country to vote. Her comments come more than four months after the White House shifted away from backing her and instead worked with a ruling-party ally following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro.

Machado has lived in exile since December after emerging from nearly a year in hiding and traveling to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She said meaningful electoral reforms would be needed before any presidential vote could take place, including neutral election authorities, updated voter registration systems and guarantees that opposition candidates can contest elections without government interference.

The timing of Venezuela’s next presidential election remains uncertain. Under the country’s constitution, elections are generally required within 30 days if a president becomes permanently unavailable, though discussions around that process have cooled as the administration of Donald Trump has publicly supported acting president Delcy Rodríguez and emphasized cooperation, including in the oil sector.

Machado, who had been barred from contesting the 2024 presidential race, backed Edmundo González Urrutia instead. She said she is prepared to face any challenger in what she called “an impeccable election.”

“I will be a candidate, but there may be others, of course,” Machado said. “I would love to compete with everyone, with anyone who wants to be a candidate.”