Spokesperson for Venezuela's Vente Venezuela party, Claudia Macero, announced on Monday that Maria Corina Machado is willing to engage in talks with Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, as part of the nation's ongoing political transition.
Macero made the statement on the local radio station Unión Radio, a day after Machado's unexpected return to Venezuela following nearly ten months in exile, primarily in Panama and the United States.
"She has expressed her willingness to sit down not only with Delcy (Rodríguez) but with anyone necessary, with complete clarity and an agenda to make things happen," Macero stated, according to AFP.
The spokesperson emphasized that the opposition leader's return is not an isolated event but a component of "a transition process that requires all parties" and cannot exclude Machado's influence.
"There is no credible transition or election process without the strength and legitimacy of the people she represents," Macero added.
As of Monday, no formal meeting had been scheduled between Machado and Rodríguez, nor had a bilateral agenda been established.
On Sunday, Machado traveled nearly 250 miles from Barquisimeto to Caracas, welcomed by thousands of supporters who lined the roads at various points along the way. Her first public appearance took place at Santa Rosa Church in Barquisimeto, where she confirmed her return with a brief social media message: "I am here. With you."
Her return followed at least seven unsuccessful attempts that Machado attributed to air and sea blockades imposed by the interim government. From Panama, Machado had already indicated her willingness to "talk to whoever needs to be talked to" once she set foot on Venezuelan soil.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Machado's return on Sunday as a "direct result" of the reconciliation process supported by Washington, highlighting that the dialogue has already led to the release of hundreds of political prisoners and the return of numerous opposition figures from exile.
The negotiations have been ongoing since the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026. Following that event, Rodríguez assumed the interim presidency, opening a dialogue between the interim government and an opposition faction led by Dinorah Figuera, president of the National Assembly elected in 2015. Talks, formalized at La Carlota Air Base last August, have progressed in renewing the Supreme Court and the National Electoral Council but have yet to set a date for presidential elections.
Machado is not formally participating in these talks, although she has stated her intent not to obstruct them. Her arrival in Caracas among crowds reintroduces a key opposition figure to Venezuela's political landscape, just as a fourth round of negotiations is scheduled for November 2026.
The interim government led by Rodríguez had not officially commented on Machado's return by the close of this report.
Key Developments in Venezuela's Political Transition
What prompted Maria Corina Machado's return to Venezuela?
Maria Corina Machado's return to Venezuela is seen as part of a broader political transition process in the country, facilitated by ongoing reconciliation efforts supported by Washington.
What are the objectives of the ongoing negotiations in Venezuela?
The negotiations aim to renew key national institutions like the Supreme Court and the National Electoral Council and eventually set a date for credible presidential elections.
How has the U.S. responded to the political changes in Venezuela?
The United States, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has expressed support for the reconciliation process, noting its success in freeing political prisoners and allowing exiled opposition figures to return.