Venezuelan leader offers talks with interim president after return to Caracas

Venezuela’s political opposition is facing an internal split over strategy as its main figure re-engages with the current executive branch.

María Corina Machado stated on Monday that she is prepared to meet with interim President Delcy Rodríguez. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate made the announcement following her return to Venezuela, her first entry into the country in seven months. She had left last December to collect her award in Norway.

The proposal has created friction within the exile community in South Florida. Carlos Perez, a Venezuelan living in the area, argued that the country needs a total shift in power rather than negotiations. He described Rodríguez as a chavista, aligning her with the political movement started by Hugo Chávez and continued by Nicolás Maduro. Perez said, "They're just not people that you can negotiate with." Despite his reservations about the process, he expressed confidence in Machado’s leadership, stating, "We all believe in Maria Corina. We think that she's the one."

Supporters of the move pointed to Machado’s risk-taking as evidence of her commitment. Geraldine Pullas said Venezuelans should trust Machado’s judgment in managing the political situation. Pullas noted that if Machado can achieve results while being in such a challenging position, she deserves recognition. "I think she's still fighting for us," Pullas said. "Though we lost a little bit of hope, she never did."

Ernesto Ackerman, president of the Independent Venezuelan American Citizens Organization in South Florida, raised safety concerns regarding Machado’s presence in the country. He argued that she is the only viable opposition leader and expressed worry about her status under Rodríguez’s rule. Ackerman suggested that the reaction from the White House could signal a lack of security for the opposition leader. When asked about Machado, President Donald Trump said, "I think she's a very nice woman; she gave me her Nobel Prize, so how can I say anything else? And I hope she's safe; she's a very nice woman, but we're doing really well in Venezuela." Ackerman said, "That opens a door for insecurity for Maria Corina Machado in Venezuela."

The Trump administration has backed Rodríguez since the U.S. military operation that removed Maduro from power. Machado has now called for presidential elections to be held by next July. She has also stated that she is interested in running for president in that race.