Claudia Macero, communications coordinator for Vente Venezuela and one of the closest collaborators of María Corina Machado, landed this Sunday night at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Caracas, after more than a year away from the country.
Her arrival reignites hopes for the possible return of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has been attempting to return to Venezuela for months without success, reported CNN.
The return of the activist coincided with a caravan called for that same Sunday by the Comando ConVzla in various states of the country, where participants demanded guarantees for Machado's safe return, the establishment of an electoral schedule, and the holding of presidential elections in 2027.
Macero took advantage of his arrival to send a direct message to the government of Delcy Rodríguez: “Everyone here has to measure up. There’s nothing better than winning an election if you compete with the best and beat them. Let María Corina come, let them compete, let's have elections, set the date.”
Regarding when the return of the opposition leader might take place, Macero admitted he does not have a specific date. "You have seen how difficult it has been," he pointed out, adding that Machado has attempted to return to Venezuela on seven occasions since she left clandestinely in December 2025 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.
The Machado team reported this week three failed attempts to return from Panama, by maritime and air routes, without clearly identifying those responsible. On Friday, Jorge Rodríguez, the chief negotiator of Chavismo in dialogue with a sector of the opposition, denied that the Venezuelan authorities are obstructing her return.
Macero is not the first figure from Machado's inner circle to return to the country. A month earlier, Omar González had done so as well; he also sought asylum in the residence of the Argentine Embassy in Caracas and described his return as “the prelude to the arrival” of the former deputy.
Both were part of the group of opponents—along with Magalli Meda, Pedro Urruchurtu, and Humberto Villalobos—who sought refuge in that diplomatic office from March 2024 and were rescued in May 2025 through the operation known as "Operation Guacamaya," with the support of the United States. In recent months, leaders Richard Blanco, Juan Pablo García, and Lester Toledo have also returned.
Henry Alviarez, coordinator of Organization of Vente Venezuela, described these returns as part of a gradual process: "This is a progressive matter. We are also working towards the arrival of María Corina Machado, who should be approaching Venezuela soon."
Meanwhile, Rodríguez stated before the UN General Assembly that "there will be elections in Venezuela" and that a political dialogue has begun with opposition sectors, although no specific date for the elections was provided.
Machado herself, at an international forum on democracy organized by the OAS to mark the 25th anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, stated that she hopes to return "very soon" and that "in the coming weeks" a decisive phase for Venezuela could begin.
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