The opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado appeared this Sunday before her supporters at the sanctuary of the Divina Pastora in Barquisimeto, Lara state, marking her first public appearance since returning to Venezuela after nearly 10 months abroad.
The Comando ConVzla shared images and videos of the event on X, where Machado is seen surrounded by supporters holding rosaries and crucifixes, in a reception filled with emotion and religious fervor.
A woman, in tears, summed up the feelings of those waiting for her: "The Virgin has performed a miracle for us."
Machado had confirmed his return hours earlier with a brief message on X: "I am here. With you."
His return came after at least seven failed attempts between June and September, hindered by flight restrictions, lack of landing authorizations, and warnings attributed to Venezuelan authorities.
Among the most notable episodes of those months was a private flight from Virginia that returned to the United States without reaching its destination, and a commercial airline that prevented boarding after receiving warnings from the Venezuelan government.
On September 22, he attempted to return three times in a single day from Panama City—by sea and to different Caribbean islands—without any of the routes succeeding.
The return was finally made possible thanks to an international diplomatic operation involving several countries and approval from Washington, according to reports from international media.
Edmundo González Urrutia also celebrated the news: "I am very excited to announce that our leader, my dear María Corina, is in Venezuelan territory," he wrote, and added that the opposition regains its "sovereign voice" with her.
González Urrutia also hinted at his own return to the country: "I will be with you and with her very soon."
The return of Machado occurs in the context of a Venezuela that has been profoundly transformed since Nicolás Maduro's capture by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026, with the government led by interim president Delcy Rodríguez.
Machado had clandestinely left the country on the night of December 8, 2025, disguised and without a passport, to travel to Oslo, where she was to receive the Nobel Peace Prize 2025, awarded for her work in defense of democratic rights and a peaceful transition in Venezuela. The opposition leader was unable to arrive in time for the ceremony, so the award was accepted by her daughter Ana Corina Sosa on her behalf.
Since then, she remained abroad —mainly in the United States and Panama— while publicly demanding a date for presidential elections and denouncing being excluded from negotiations between chavismo and sectors of the opposition facilitated by Washington.
The ConVzla Command summarized the significance of the moment with a phrase that circulated widely among its supporters: "Venezuela has changed and is preparing for the definitive transition to democracy and freedom."
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