Venezuela Opposition Renews Support for Machado as Leader

Venezuela's opposition alliance, the Unitary Democratic Platform (PUD), has reaffirmed Maria Corina Machado as its leader.

Members agreed at a meeting in Caracas on October 18 to recognise and support her leadership, Al Jazeera reported.

The alliance issued a statement containing 14 proposals for a democratic transition in Venezuela. The proposals include freedom for political parties, release of all political prisoners and safe return of those who went into exile.

The PUD renewed its demand for free elections following contested presidential votes in 2024 and 2018. Venezuela had not declared a date for a new presidential vote as of October 18. Machado told the Financial Times earlier in October that she would like elections to be held by July next year, saying there was "more than enough time" to prepare.

Machado has lived in exile since leaving Venezuela last December to receive her Nobel Peace Prize. Her party, Vente Venezuela, says Venezuelan authorities blocked her repeated attempts to return. She made three unsuccessful bids to return in the hours before September 23, according to Reuters reporting.

As of September 16, Machado was in Panama, Reuters reported. Venezuelans rallied in late September to demand her return and the holding of presidential elections. Four opposition sources said in September that she would return to Venezuela, but no date had been set.

Since January 3, Venezuela has been led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez posted on social media on October 18 in support of the PUD proposals. Machado won the opposition coalition's presidential primary in October 2023 and gifted US President Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize in January during a visit to Washington, DC.