The Albany Gazette - Venezuela leader criticizes Machado over dramatic return from exile

The Nobel peace laureate arrived back in the country on Sunday after nearly a year away, drawing jubilant crowds in a direct challenge to Rodriguez's US-backed government.

Thousands of people lined highways, toll plazas and city streets waving Venezuelan flags and chanting "Liberty!" as a beaming Machado entered Caracas in a convoy of cars and motorbikes.

On Monday, Machado extended an olive branch to the interim leader, saying she was open to talks with the woman who served as deputy to her nemesis, president Nicolas Maduro, before his capture by the US.

Machado "has expressed her willingness to sit down not only with Delcy (Rodriguez), but with whoever she has to sit down with, before the country, with total transparency, and with an agenda," Claudia Macero, her spokesperson, told local radio.

But Rodriguez lambasted the pomp and circumstance of Machado's arrival, saying on state television that "the show could have been avoided -- the airports are right here."

- Home at last -

Machado's return puts Venezuela's most influential opposition figure back at the center of the country's tumultuous politics.

"Maria, if you come back, my daughter has to come back!" a supporter shouted at her on Sunday, referring to one of the millions of Venezuelans who have fled repression and a moribund economy.

Machado slipped out of the country last December to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, after spending nearly a year in hiding.

Since then the 59-year-old had made several unsuccessful attempts to return to Venezuela, according to sources in her party.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said American officials spoke with authorities in Caracas weeks prior to her return, explaining that Machado "should be allowed to return unperturbed" from exile.

She was welcomed to a country much changed since her departure -- nine months ago, Maduro was captured in an extraordinary US military operation and jailed in the United States.

But to the democratic opposition's dismay, Rodriguez took over as interim president, with Washington's blessing.

Since then, Machado had been forced to watch from exile in Panama as US-backed talks on a political transition took place without her.

The interim government has promised elections, but so far has not set a date.

Machado has repeatedly praised President Donald Trump for launching the risky operation to detain Maduro, and even gifted him the Nobel medal she received.

But Trump has repeatedly expressed satisfaction with Rodriguez as she fulfills key US demands, particularly on granting access to Venezuelan oil.

- Huge oil reserves -

Last week, thousands demonstrated in Caracas and other cities, demanding Machado's return and elections.

Many leaders from her Vente Venezuela party have also recently returned from exile that was prompted by a post-election purge that left 28 dead and resulted in more than 2,400 arrests, including dozens of Machado's associates.

Her party wants elections in 2027 and for her to be allowed to run, unlike the last presidential vote.

Venezuela sits on the world's largest proven oil reserves, but its current production of one million barrels of crude per day falls far short of the three million it averaged decades ago, due to years of corruption and poor management.

Rodriguez has granted Washington access to a huge chunk of the country's crude reserves and signed agreements with foreign companies to look for, produce and export oil and gas.

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(T.Wright--TAG)