An alliance of Venezuelan opposition parties on Sunday reaffirmed exiled Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado as its leader, increasing pressure on the interim authorities to allow her to return home.
The announcement, part of a new “Grand National Agreement”, comes as opposition representatives and the interim government hold a third round of talks on the country’s political transition following the US ouster of longtime leader Nicolas Maduro in January.
Machado, who is living in Panama and is not directly involved in the negotiations, has said she will not interfere in the process, which has Washington’s backing.
Members of the opposition’s Unitary Democratic Platform “recognise and support the leadership of Maria Corina Machado”, according to the agreement presented after meetings in Caracas.
“We are now going to move forward with one of the initiatives that I consider the most powerful, most potent and most necessary, and that will be recognised around the world: our great agreement for rebuilding the republic,” Machado said in a virtual address.
Maduro was captured by the US military in January and flown to New York to stand trial. His deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, assumed power in his place and has governed under intense pressure from Washington.
At the Caracas meeting, the opposition alliance presented 14 proposals aimed at restoring democracy, along with a roadmap for holding general elections.
The group also called for the unconditional release of all political prisoners, an end to political repression and the right of exiles to return home.
“We are at the beginning of a new era. We will finally make the liberal democratic republic a reality... Venezuela will be free,” Machado said.
The coalition demanded full freedom for political parties, the lifting of restrictions on candidates seeking public office and an end to administrative proceedings targeting political organisations. Machado has been among those barred from running for office. The alliance also called for measures to protect human rights.
It advocated a peaceful transition to democracy and free, competitive elections but did not set a date for the vote. Machado’s Vente party is pushing for elections to be held next year.
Dinorah Figuera, who leads the opposition delegation in talks with the interim government, said on Friday that she was working to ensure the negotiations lead to elections.
Machado has been in exile since leaving Venezuela covertly in 2025 to receive her Nobel Peace Prize. According to her party, she has made at least seven attempts to return but has been blocked by the Venezuelan authorities.
Many observers believe Washington has played a role in preventing her return, citing US President Donald Trump’s repeated expressions of satisfaction with Rodriguez. US officials have denied such claims.
Despite the dispute, Machado again thanked Trump for the operation that captured Maduro.
“I have always been grateful to the president of the United States for opening a door to progress toward freedom, democracy and true sovereignty,” she said.