María Corina Machado on Why She’s Returning to Venezuela Now | WSJ

- It's time to return. I cannot lead a process from abroad if our people are suffering. - Maria Corina Machado says she's finally returning home to Venezuela. In December, the opposition leader made a daring escape to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, but she's been unable to go home since. Here in Panama City for months now, she's been plotting her return. - There's so much we need to do to prepare. - But after ousting strong men Nicolas Maduro in January, the Trump administration has kept his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, in power, even blocking Machado from returning after the earthquakes in late June. - Seeing what's happening right now, there is true urgency. Delcy Rodríguez is chaos. - But the Trump administration has now signed a major oil deal with Rodriguez's government. A strong incentive to keep her in power. - There are those that say it was the greatest deal ever made. Let's see what happens. - In an exclusive interview before the deal was announced, she told us about her plans to return and to face the authoritarian regime and organize her opposition movement in order to press for free elections. Since you left Venezuela last year, you've said you want to go back as soon as possible. And of course, a lot has changed in the country. You'll be returning to a very different Venezuela than the one you left. Can you tell us why it's important to return right now? - Well, as you say, Venezuela has changed a lot in these last months. After January 3rd, an opportunity opened and we've seen very important steps being taken. Political prisoners being liberated, people daring to gather in the streets to demand their rights. On the other hand, the situation in the economic side is very dire. People are starving. Over 85% of a population leading poverty. And after the earthquake, the terrible catastrophe, the situation has accelerated and the demand for urgent civic change is increasing by the hour. And I believe my presence will be an element of stability, of a force that will help order and channel this energy in a civic way towards an electoral process. - Can you tell us a little more about what you're hoping to achieve physically inside the country that you couldn't do organizing from the outside? - That's a very important question because this is not about me. This is about 30 million Venezuelans that are suffering and demanding the possibility to move ahead into transition to democracy and freedom, to have our children come back home, to rebuild institutions to turn Venezuela into the greatest ally of the United States for the long term. We were able to build this legend of volunteers to have a huge landslide victory against Nicolas Maduro on, in 2024. Now we have to turn all this organization into a citizen movement that will give support and legitimacy to the process of transition to democracy. This is going to happen in thousands, tens of thousands of public debate and assemblies all around the country at the same time. - Walk us through how you picture your first few days, your first week after your return. Obviously, what do you look forward to, but also, you know, what do you think the biggest challenge is going to be? - Well, as you can imagine, I think every single night, I bring money. How could it be the moment? How the people have not seen friends that were in prison, recently liberated, that are waiting for me. And the chance to move around our country and, you know, increasing hope. I see myself probably all around the country to the tiny communities sitting down listening to mothers, to workers, to farmers, to businessmen, to drivers, to students, to teachers, to doctors, nurses, everybody hearing their ideas and strengthening the plans that we have because we have been working for years. We know what need to be done to have the best education system in the region, to rebuild an independent judiciary or help system or pension system. We have great, great Venezuelans inside the country and abroad that we've been working for many years and we are very eager to see that turn into our reality. - Walking around with Machado in this square, we encountered several people who recognized her, asked her for selfies. And one even told her that he really hoped to see her soon in Miraflores Palace, the president's residence in Caracas. But not everyone is backing her decision to return so soon. Trump has embraced acting President Delcy Rodriguez, even signing a historic deal with her to help develop up to 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil. - We're getting along great with the government. Delcy, as you know, is doing a very, very good job, very highly respected. - Machado has criticized the deal without attacking Trump, instead accusing Rodriguez of a lack of transparency. - But some inside the White House worried that if Machado returns too soon, she could threaten this arrangement by triggering unrest or derailing negotiations between the government and other members of the opposition. Machado told me the opposite is true. - It's important to understand Delcy Rodriguez is chaos. That's what they represent. That's how they sustained themselves. They have brought poverty, terror, and they have forced a third of Venezuelan population to flee. So there's those that destroy the country will never be able to build a strong republic. - You said that you have faith in Secretary Marco Rubio's three-phase plans, stabilization first, then economic recovery, then a democratic transition. - What's stopping you from asking Venezuela to set a firm date for an election? - Oh, I just don't think they're ready yet. - What do you say to people who fear that if you return too early, you could derail this process or you could endanger that democratic transition? - Yes, I understand there are people that fear that, but I think they do not know the reality of the Venezuelan people. It's actually the country. And my return is not a challenge, it's a contribution to the process. There's no one that's most interest than us that this process is successful and moves steadily ahead. People aren't demanding results, and the way through which you can contend all these tensions is setting a date in which people know that the political change will come. Look, I believe Secretary Rubio and certainly President Trump understand that at the timetable that has been put in place to be respected by the regime and that things in Venezuela are accelerating. - So does the Trump administration support your return right now? Have you been coordinating with them? - Well, I have good relations. We've been in contact. I will never get into specifics of private conversations, but they certainly understand that the reasons why I believe I'm very, very useful for this process back in Venezuela. - Machado spent more than a year hiding from Madura's regime before she escaped Venezuela. Now, most of the same people are still in charge and have accused her of violating the law. - Machado says she's aware that it's a risk to her and her family if she goes back, but she told me she can't stay away any longer. You've been gone from Venezuela for a long time now, over eight months. Did you ever imagine that you would be gone this long? - Oh, no, certainly not. Certainly not. And when I escaped, I knew I had goals to achieve. I had been forbidden to leave my country for over 12 years, so there was a lot of people I need to meet and to be dreadful in the name of Venezuela for their support for our cause and to engage for what's coming. At the same time, I wanted to see, hear, and share with our diaspora that has been forced to flee and are scattered all around the world. - I think one of the bright spots of being able to leave the country or be outside as long has been to see your children. You hadn't been able to see them for two years while you were hiding inside of Venezuela. - That first instant when I saw my children, it's been one of the most extraordinary spiritual moments of my life. - How does your family feel about you returning now? - You know what? I thought they were going to be scared, even perhaps ask me to reconsider, but it's quite the opposite. I think this is for the first time all my family understand and absolutely support this decision. You know why? Because I also want to go back. As all of us, all of my sons, we need to go back. I mean, we've suffered too long and that's the legacy of this moment. That's why this moment is unique in history. And I would say it's one of the most important events of this century for the Americas.