Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado Announces 2026 Presidential Run from Exile
Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado announced on May 24, 2026, in Panama City that she will return to Venezuela before the end of 2026 to run for president again. She has been in exile since December 2025 after receiving the Nobel Prize. Her announcement comes over four months after the Trump administration sidelined her and began cooperating with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, following the U.S. military capture of Nicolás Maduro. Machado insists on free and fair elections with neutral authorities.
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Venezuela Opposition Leader Machado Seeks Democratic Transition Without Revenge
Exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, stated on June 2, 2026, at the Oslo Freedom Forum that she seeks to negotiate a democratic transition in Venezuela without 'surrender' or 'revenge.' She emphasized that interim leaders under acting President Delcy Rodriguez must recognize the need to include the democratic majority that voted on July 28, 2024. Machado is determined to negotiate with Rodriguez, who succeeded Nicolas Maduro after his capture in a U.S. military raid in January 2026. The opposition considers Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia the rightful winner of the disputed 2024 election, alleging massive fraud. Machado noted that the U.S. under President Trump has allowed Rodriguez to remain in power while opening oil and mining sectors to private capital, and Washington appears reluctant to support Machado's rapid return to Venezuela.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Exiled Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Vows to Return and Run for President
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado announced on Saturday that she plans to return to Venezuela before the end of 2026 and run for president again. Speaking at a gathering of opposition leaders in Panama, she reiterated the opposition's commitment to a democratic transition through free and fair elections. Her remarks come four months after the Trump administration publicly backed ruling-party loyalist Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela's leader, following Nicolás Maduro's capture by U.S. military forces in January. Machado had previously praised the U.S. intervention but was sidelined by President Trump, who questioned her political viability. Machado has also outlined plans to open Venezuela's oil industry to foreign investors, telling executives at CERAWeek that production could quintuple under a democratic government. She has been living in exile and recently presented a Nobel Peace Prize award to Trump at the White House. It remains unclear when a presidential election will be held under Venezuelan law.
Just In NewsVenezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado Announces New Presidential Candidacy
Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, announced during a meeting in Panama City that she intends to run for president again and return to Venezuela before the end of 2026. Machado has been in exile since December 2025 after emerging from 11 months in hiding. Her announcement comes over four months after the Trump administration chose to collaborate with Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, a Maduro loyalist, following the US military capture of Nicolas Maduro. Machado emphasized the need for free and fair presidential elections with neutral electoral authorities, updated voter lists, and no government interference. She stated that organizing democratic elections would require 7-9 months of preparation. Machado was barred from the 2024 election but backed retired ambassador Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who she claims won by a 2-to-1 margin according to opposition evidence. She expressed willingness to compete against any candidate in a 'flawless' election.
Digi24Nobel Peace laureate Maria Corina Machado to return Venezuela for 2026 presidential run
Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado announced plans to run for president again and return to Venezuela before the end of 2026. Speaking in Panama City with fellow opposition leaders, Machado reiterated her commitment to a democratic transition through free and fair elections. The announcement comes over four months after the Trump administration sidelined her and began working with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who succeeded Nicolás Maduro after his capture by US forces. Machado, who has been in exile since December after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway, noted that organizing democratic elections would take seven to nine months. The US has dampened talk of elections amid surging oil prices tied to the Iran war and increased investment in Venezuela's oil industry.
The News International - latest newsMaría Corina Machado Vows Another Run for Venezuelan Presidency and Eyes Return from Exile
Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado announced on May 24, 2026, that she plans to run for president again and intends to return to Venezuela before the end of 2026. Speaking in Panama City with fellow opposition leaders, Machado reiterated her commitment to a democratic transition through free and fair presidential elections. She has been in exile since December 2025 after emerging from 11 months in hiding and receiving the Nobel Prize in Norway. The announcement comes over four months after the White House sidelined her and began working with a ruling party loyalist following the U.S. military's capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. President Donald Trump has praised acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who has opened Venezuela's oil industry to U.S. investment amid surging oil prices. Machado noted that an election with democratic conditions would require 7-9 months of planning, including neutral electoral authorities and updated voter registration.
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