Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has reiterated her commitment to pushing for a democratic transition in Venezuela, saying she remains focused on securing free and fair presidential elections that would allow all citizens, both inside and outside the country, to participate.
Speaking in Panama City during a meeting with fellow opposition figures, Machado said the opposition movement remains united around the goal of restoring democratic governance, although the timing of any presidential election in Venezuela remains uncertain.
Her remarks come months after major political shifts in Venezuela’s leadership structure and a change in international engagement, including a reported shift by the United States toward working with interim authorities following the removal of Nicolás Maduro.
Machado, who has been living in exile since December after spending months in hiding, previously travelled to Norway where she was honoured with a Nobel Peace Prize for her political activism and opposition leadership.
She stated that meaningful elections would require significant preparation, including the establishment of neutral electoral institutions, updated voter registers, and guarantees that opposition candidates can participate without interference.
The opposition figure also reaffirmed her willingness to contest in any credible election, stressing that she is prepared to compete against any other candidate in what she described as a legitimate and transparent electoral process.
Machado originally rose as a leading opposition voice after being barred from participating in the disputed 2024 presidential election, after which she supported another candidate who later claimed victory, although official results declared otherwise.
Her renewed political push comes amid continued uncertainty over Venezuela’s political transition, with ongoing debates over electoral reforms, leadership legitimacy, and international involvement in the country’s future.
