Machado returns to Venezuela, visits quake-hit La Guaira
The opposition leader stated on Thursday that the three-phase transition plan is moving forward and cannot be reversed.
By Olivia Miller ·
María Corina Machado told reporters on Thursday that the transition in Venezuela is now irreversible. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate made the remark during her first press conference since returning to the country on Sunday. She said the first three days of her return confirm that the government’s transition plan is moving forward.
The plan was proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and consists of three phases. Machado noted that the progress observed since Sunday’s arrival supports the momentum of this roadmap. She characterized the current political shift as a definitive change.
On Wednesday, the opposition leader traveled to the northern coastal state of La Guaira. The region suffered severe damage from a double earthquake on June 24. Machado met with residents affected by the disaster in various sectors of the area. Her campaign team released photos and videos of the visit on social media.
The group identified the trip as a priority for Machado from the moment she re-entered the nation. They noted that she inspected the destruction firsthand following the events of June 24. A statement from the campaign said that seeing the damage caused pain, but hearing from the families reinforced a commitment to support them.
Machado returned to Venezuela after several previous attempts to enter the country had failed. She led a vehicle caravan from the western state of Lara to Caracas. This route marked her first public appearance since crossing the border. Upon her return, she also met with members of her Vente Venezuela party and leaders of the Plataforma Unitaria Democrática coalition.
She also visited families of political prisoners and victims of human rights violations. Additionally, she spoke with representatives of the Alianza por Venezuela, a group comprising small social and political organizations. These meetings formed part of her initial schedule after arriving on Sunday.
The press conference on Thursday marked the first official media event hosted by Machado since her return. She addressed the public from La Guaira, a location previously known as Vargas. The visit to the earthquake zone served as a central element of her three-day stay before the announcement.
