Opposition leader María Corina Machado blamed interim president Delcy Rodríguez this Saturday for her inability to enter the country, which she left in hiding in December 2025 and has not been able to return to since.
"Until now it has not been possible," said María Corina about her announced return to Venezuela. "Evidently Delcy Rodríguez's regime does not want me to be present, they fear my return," she said after being approached by Panamanian press on a street in Panama City, following a meeting with Venezuelan citizens affected by the 7.7 earthquake that struck the Central American country last Friday.
Machado says the reason for the interim government's refusal is the fear it causes the top leadership to see that behind her "there is an entire country willing to move forward in a civic and firm manner to accomplish our task, which is a transition to democracy."
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate said she is doing everything within her power to return to the country.