Venezuelan opposition figure María Machado has returned to the country after spending several months in exile, her office and associates said.
Machado left Venezuela a month before the US government took action described in reports as the seizure of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. Her departure and subsequent return come amid heightened political tensions and international scrutiny of Venezuela’s leadership.
The decision to come back marks a notable moment for the opposition, which has seen leaders living abroad or facing legal and political pressure at home. Machado’s return will be closely watched by domestic supporters and international observers for any shifts in the opposition’s activities or strategy.
While Machado’s immediate plans on the ground have not been detailed in the initial accounts, her reappearance adds a new development to an already volatile political environment in Venezuela and is likely to prompt responses from both supporters and government officials.