Madrid, Spain – Venezuela’s opposition chief, María Corina Machado, drew hundreds of supporters to Madrid’s Puerta del Sol on Saturday, telling them that they’d quickly be capable to return to Venezuela.
“At present we start our return residence,” she mentioned to raucous applause from the group.
Machado appeared on a balcony draped with the Spanish and Venezuelan flags overlooking the sq. and flanked by members of her staff.
It was a second that felt nearer to a presidential handle than a political rally, adopted by chants calling for elections to vote her in and cries of “president, president, president” filling the sq. at numerous factors all through her speech.
The Madrid rally marks an try by Machado to construct momentum, amid uncertainty over the opposition’s subsequent steps and anticipation about when she is going to return to Venezuela.
Machado gained the opposition’s 2023 main by a landslide however was barred from working within the 2024 presidential election. Edmundo Gonzalez ran in her place and is broadly believed to have gained.
However for the reason that seize of Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3, many Venezuelans need recent elections and do take into account Delcy Rodriguez, now interim president, to symbolize them.
A couple of minutes after Machado’s balcony look, she stepped onto a stage in her signature white prime and denims — the identical look she wore throughout dozens of rallies in Venezuela forward of the 2024 elections — in addition to rosary beads round her neck, gifted by supporters.
Machado, who gained the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025, lifted young children onto the stage to hug them, as numerous items have been handed by way of the group in the direction of the stage — photos, flowers, and extra rosary beads.
She mentioned that on January 3 an enormous gap opened up, and that pressure and power had begun to move: “Now, having lived by way of what we’ve lived by way of, having endured the worst repression and persecution, having overcome concern, we at the moment are unstoppable — unstoppable.”
Whereas she criticized interim president of Venezuela, Rodriguez, she praised the U.S. president.
“There’s one chief on the planet, one head of state, who has risked the lives of his nation’s residents for the liberty of Venezuela. And that’s Donald Trump,” Machado mentioned, referring to the U.S. seize of Maduro in January.
Machado additionally paid tribute to town of Madrid, which she mentioned had welcomed and built-in Venezuelans at their time of want — however mentioned quickly they’d be capable to return to Venezuela.
“At present the entire world has its eyes on this Plaza del Sol, as a result of it is aware of that right here immediately we’re starting the return residence,” she shouted. “Pack your baggage, as a result of we’re going again.”
Spain hosts one of many largest Venezuelan communities in Europe, making it a key base of help for the opposition overseas.
Many Venezuelans on the gathering mentioned that they did wish to return residence.
“We have been nurses, eighteen years of service, and we needed to go away residence, we needed to go away work, we needed to go away the whole lot,” a girl known as Nazareth informed Latin America Stories. She had left along with her buddy in September 2025 due to persecution by authorities in Venezuela.
However she mentioned she needs to return as quickly as it’s secure sufficient — and believes Machado could make that occur: “I’m with María Corina to the very finish and past. She is a warrior girl, a girl who represents all of us.”
Others who had lived in Spain for years mentioned Madrid was now their residence, though some have been starting to think about a return. Liliana Urbina got here to Spain 20 in the past, when Hugo Chávez was nonetheless in energy. However she mentioned the modifications since January 3 and Machado’s management now had her contemplating a everlasting return to her residence nation.
“Once I arrived right here, I forgot concerning the thought of returning, however María Corina has modified that. She has proven the world that we are able to rebuild the nation, that we’re united, and that we’ll transfer ahead,” she informed Latin America Stories. “So it’s possible, and it’s attainable, and it’s a dream that we too now have — of returning.”
The occasion was at instances extra like a live performance than a rally, with musical performances from well-known Venezuelan performers corresponding to Carlos Baute and opera singer Víctor García Sierra.
Many Venezuelans had arrived as early as 2 P.M. to safe their spots, bringing provides in addition to musical devices to play for others round them. Others dressed up as President Trump or Nicolas Maduro, and posed for pictures with the group.
Because the day progressed and the group elevated, a number of folks fainted as a result of warmth and lack of shade.
Earlier within the day, Machado had attended a second symbolic ceremony throughout her go to. This time, she was awarded the Medal of the Neighborhood of Madrid. Edmundo González additionally obtained the honour however was unable to just accept it in particular person as he’s at the moment in hospital. On Friday she obtained the “llave de Oro” — golden key — an honour normally reserved for heads of state.
On Friday and Saturday, María Corina met with the nation’s two predominant opposition leaders — Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the PP and Santiago Abascal of Vox. However she didn’t meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was internet hosting a convention of left-wing leaders — together with Petro, Lula and Sheinbaum — in Barcelona. Nevertheless, Sánchez mentioned he had provided to fulfill her.
María Corina will go to the Spanish Senate on Monday.
Featured picture description: Maria Corina Machado spoke to a crowd of supporters on Saturday, April 18. Featured picture credit score: Catherine Ellis.
