Claudia Macero, communications chief for Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, returned to Venezuela on Sunday night after roughly a year and a half in exile. Machado’s movement held caravans that day calling for her safe return and a presidential election in 2027. Macero gave no date for Machado’s return. Her arrival made the movement’s demand for a path home concrete, while the election timetable remains unsettled.
Claudia Macero, communications chief for Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, landed at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía on Sunday night. El País and Al Jazeera both reported her return on the day Machado supporters took to the roads. El País said Macero had spent almost a year and a half in exile. Journalists and supporters of Vente Venezuela, Machado’s political movement, met her at the airport.[1], [2]
Machado’s movement organised caravans in several Venezuelan regions on Sunday. Participants demanded safe passage for her, an electoral timetable and a presidential election in 2027. El País named Zulia and La Guaira among the places with marches; Al Jazeera also reported the nationwide call and Macero’s return. The marches did not announce an agreed election date or a completed return by Machado herself.[1], [2]
Macero said returning was her own decision and that she hoped it would open a route for others. Machado’s movement said it was working toward its leader’s return, but Macero gave no date for that step. El País reported that Machado had made three unsuccessful attempts to enter Venezuela during the preceding week. Macero had taken refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas in March 2024 with other opposition figures after arrest orders were issued. She is the second member of the group that later left the embassy to return to Venezuela.[1]
