Machado pushes for new elections in first news conference since returning to Venezuela
Machado Pushes for New Elections After Returning to Venezuela
Qwenews.com – María Corina Machado is calling for a new presidential vote after returning to Venezuela, arguing that the country has reached a decisive point in its political transition. At her first news conference since coming back from exile, the opposition leader said the public’s demand for freedom should lead to credible elections.
Machado returned Sunday to large crowds of supporters. She said the reception reinforced her belief that Venezuelans want political change and are ready to take part in a democratic process.
I have returned to finish a task and to fulfill a mandate.
Machado said one message stood out during her return: “freedom.” Her appearance placed her once again at the center of Venezuela’s fast-moving political debate over how the country should move toward a new government.
Path to a presidential vote remains unclear
Machado pushes for new elections as Venezuelan and US officials discuss the institutional changes needed before a vote can be held. No date has been announced by Washington or Venezuela’s acting government.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient left Venezuela in December to travel to Norway for the award ceremony. Her return came after the United States removed and captured Nicolás Maduro during a January 3 military operation.
Machado said Maduro is now facing justice and credited the US government with helping create an opening for greater political freedom in Venezuela.
Thanks to the actions of the United States government, Maduro is facing justice, and the floodgates of freedom have been opened.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described a possible sequence that could result in a presidential election in 2027, according to Machado. Before that can happen, Venezuela’s electoral system would need substantial reforms.
A senior State Department official said a new Supreme Tribunal of Justice is expected by the end of the year, followed by a replacement National Electoral Council, or CNE. Venezuela’s acting leader would then need to declare a permanent presidential vacancy, beginning a six-month period before an election. The CNE would set the date.
Machado said the transition must be handled urgently and responsibly, maintaining that the recent developments have made democratic change increasingly difficult to reverse.
This addresses a national urgency with a sense of responsibility. It has also made clear — based on what has transpired in recent days — that the democratic transition is irreversible.
Rodríguez says elections and reforms will proceed
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez spoke shortly before Machado’s news conference. Without directly addressing Machado’s return, Rodríguez called on Venezuelans with different political views to judge her administration by its actions.
To those who think differently from me, I do not ask you to change your opinion. I ask you to judge by the facts. Less fighting, more solutions.
Rodríguez said elections would be held in line with Venezuela’s Constitution, but she did not provide a timetable. She also said the electoral issue should not return the country to the years of confrontation that have marked its political crisis.
Her administration has worked with Washington since Maduro’s removal. The acting government has released hundreds of political prisoners, permitted some Venezuelans abroad to return and made it easier for US companies to invest in the country.
Washington has also encouraged reconciliation discussions between the acting government and opposition figures, including Dinorah Figuera. Machado said she is not taking part in those talks, though she hopes they lead to results.
Asked whether she expected to meet Rodríguez, Machado said neither the United States nor the acting president had contacted her.
No, I have not received any message from the United States or from Ms. Rodríguez.
Rights, property and political guarantees
Rodríguez also announced proposed reforms that include a pledge that no one will be arrested without judicial authorization. The measures are part of broader questions about civil liberties, property rights and the legal guarantees needed during a political transition.
For Machado and other opposition figures, reforms to the courts and election authorities will be a central test of whether a future presidential contest can be trusted. Machado pushes for new elections alongside demands for institutions that voters, candidates and international observers can regard as legitimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
When could Venezuela hold a new presidential election?
No election date has been announced. The sequence described by US officials could lead to a vote in 2027, but it depends on reforms to the courts and electoral authorities, as well as a formal declaration of a permanent presidential vacancy.
What role would the National Electoral Council play?
The National Electoral Council, known as the CNE, would be responsible for organizing the election and setting the date once the required legal and institutional steps are completed.
Is Machado meeting with Venezuela’s acting government?
Machado said she had not received a message from either the United States or Acting President Delcy Rodríguez about a meeting. She is not participating in the reconciliation talks involving other opposition figures.