María Corina Machado has returned to the forefront of Venezuelan politics with a message of confidence in the country's future, but also with an electoral calendar that still depends on pending decisions. In her first press conference after returning to Venezuela, the opposition leader assured that political change is irreversible and took for granted that there will be presidential elections in 2027, despite the fact that there is no official confirmed date for the elections.
"The democratic transition is irreversible," Machado affirmed this Thursday. The leader, who spent nearly ten months outside the country, argued that her return aims to reorganize the opposition and mobilize Venezuelan society. "I have returned to mobilize society, incorporate all sectors, and finish a task," she stated.
However, her statements come in a political scenario where the electoral calendar is not yet closed. Machado herself linked her expectations to the three-phase plan promoted by the United States, whose development she considers key to advancing towards a democratic transition. The leader assured that "the deadlines have become clearer" for holding elections and argued that the US roadmap will allow progress towards that goal. Nevertheless, the call depends on institutional decisions that still need to be finalized, so her forecasts for 2027 do not equate to an official call.
Machado backs Trump's strategy and thanks for Maduro's capture
One of the most notable points of the appearance was Machado's recognition of the United States' role in the Venezuelan political process. The opposition leader argued that the US action on January 3, which ended with the capture of Nicolás Maduro, opened a new stage for the country. "President Trump's three-phase plan is advancing," she affirmed. She also maintained that "the US interest is to advance in the transition."
Her support for this strategy places Washington as one of the central actors in the roadmap that Machado considers necessary to hold elections. The leader also thanked the support of the US president and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, although she avoided answering a question about the proposal for Venezuela to become another state of the United States.
The relationship with the Trump Administration thus raises an important question about the country's political future: to what extent will the process depend on Washington's decisions and the agreements reached with Venezuelan authorities. Machado argues that US intervention has opened an opportunity for transition, but the outcome will depend on how the political and institutional process materializes. Meanwhile, the acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, assured that there will be elections in accordance with the Constitution and promised a "renewed" electoral authority, although she also did not set a date. Rodríguez argued that the calendar should not become a source of political confrontation.
The opposition leader promises justice, but the electoral calendar remains pending
During her speech, Machado also argued that an eventual transition must include measures to compensate the victims of political repression during the years of Chavismo. The leader proposed the creation of a Truth Commission and demanded changes in judicial institutions. "The country needs justice, or impunity," she stated, arguing that the political process should not be limited to a change of government. She also promised that there would be reparation for victims and guarantees to prevent abuses from recurring.
The opposition leader assured that her commitment to negotiation does not mean giving up demanding accountability. As she explained, the goal is to achieve an "organized and peaceful" transition that responds to the situation Venezuela is experiencing. Machado also defended the need to recover citizen organization and mobilize Venezuelans inside and outside the country. In this regard, she announced that she wants to reactivate the networks that participated in the defense of electoral records and organize assemblies to incorporate different social sectors.
Despite her messages of confidence, the leader did not announce a specific date for the elections nor confirm a meeting with Delcy Rodríguez. The possibility that the elections will be held in 2027 remains linked to the evolution of negotiations and the decisions adopted by the authorities responsible for the process. Machado closed her appearance by reaffirming her commitment to the country after her return. "I will never leave Venezuela again," she assured. Her return opens a new stage for the opposition, but the holding of elections and the conditions of the transition remain to be defined.
