Massive crowds greet opposition leader María Corina Machado on her return to Venezuela

Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado returned to the country this Sunday after a ten-month absence, drawing large crowds in multiple localities. In Santa Rosa, Lara, she appeared at a Catholic mass, where thousands of supporters surrounded the church, holding rosaries and national flags. The crowd greeted her with hugs and chants of her name, while many thanked God for her safe arrival.

Machado moved among the people, shaking hands, accepting rosaries and crucifixes, and repeatedly expressed gratitude for the warm reception. Her exile had included travel through Central America and Caribbean islands, and she had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 in Oslo during that period. The event highlighted the continued popular support for the opposition leader within Venezuela.