Madrid, Spain – Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado drew thousands of supporters to Madrid’s Puerta del Sol on Saturday and said they would soon be able to return to the country.
“Today we begin our journey home,” she said, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
Machado appeared with her teammates on a balcony draped in Spanish and Venezuelan flags overlooking the square.
It was a moment that felt closer to a presidential speech than a political rally, and throughout the speech, the slogan “President, President, President” filled the square, followed by slogans urging people to vote for her in the election.
The Madrid rally represents Machado’s attempt to gain momentum amid uncertainty about the opposition’s next steps and expectations about when she will return to Venezuela.
Machado won a landslide victory in the 2023 opposition primary, but was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election. Edmundo Gonzalez ran to replace her and is widely believed to have won.
But since U.S. forces arrested Nicolas Maduro on January 3, many Venezuelans want new elections and are considering current interim president Delcy Rodriguez as a candidate to represent them.
Minutes after Machado appeared on the balcony, she took the stage wearing the same signature white top and jeans she has worn at dozens of rallies in Venezuela ahead of the 2024 elections, with a rosary around her neck that had been gifted by supporters.
Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, pulled young children onto the stage and hugged them as various gifts, including paintings, flowers and rosaries, were delivered to the stage by the crowd.
She said that on January 3, a large hole opened and the force and energy began to flow. “Now that we have gone through what we have been through, endured the worst oppression and persecution, and overcome fear, we are now unstoppable. Unstoppable.”
She praised the U.S. president while criticizing Venezuela’s interim president, Rodríguez.
“There is only one leader and head of state in the world who risked the lives of his people for the freedom of Venezuela: Donald Trump,” Machado said, referring to the U.S. arrest of Maduro in January.
Machado also said the city of Madrid welcomed and integrated Venezuelans when needed, but that he would soon be able to return to Venezuela.
“Today the whole world is watching this Plaza del Sol, because today we know that our return home begins here,” she exclaimed. “We’re going back, so pack your bags.”
Spain has one of the largest Venezuelan communities in Europe, making it a key base of support for the opposition abroad.
Many Venezuelans at the meeting said they really wanted to return home.
A woman named Nazareth said: “We were nurses, we served for 18 years, we had to leave our homes, we had to leave our jobs, we had to leave everything. Latin America Report. She left with a friend in September 2025 due to persecution by Venezuelan authorities.
But she said she would like to return once it is safe enough and believes Machado can do so. “I am with Maria Corinna until the end. She is a warrior and a woman who represents all of us.”
Others who have lived in Spain for years said Madrid is now their home, but some are starting to consider returning. Liliana Urbina came to Spain 20 years ago when Hugo Chávez was still in power. But she said the changes since Jan. 3 and Machado’s leadership have now led her to consider a permanent return to her home country.
“When I arrived here, I had forgotten about returning, but Maria Corina changed that. She showed the world that we can rebuild our country, that we will unite and move forward,” she said. Latin America Report. “So it’s possible, it’s possible, and it’s a dream we have right now: to get back to it.”
The event was at times more of a concert than a rally, featuring musical performances by renowned Venezuelan performers including Carlos Baute and opera singer Víctor García Sierra.
Many Venezuelans arrived as early as 2pm to secure seats, and they also brought supplies and instruments so they could play for those around them. Others dressed as President Trump or Nicolas Maduro took pictures with the crowd.
As the day went on and the crowd grew, there were many people who fainted due to the heat and lack of shade.
Earlier in the day, Machado attended the second symbolic event of his visit. This time she received the Madrid Community Medal. Edmundo González also received this honor, but was unable to receive it in person as he is currently hospitalized. On Friday she received the “llave de Oro” (Golden Key), an honor usually given to heads of state.
On Friday and Saturday, María Corina met with the country’s two main opposition leaders: PP’s Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Vox’s Santiago Abascal. But she failed to meet Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was hosting a meeting of leftist leaders including Petro, Lula and Sheinbaum in Barcelona. But Sanchez said he offered to meet with her.
María Corina is scheduled to visit the Spanish Senate on Monday.
Featured image caption: Maria Corina Machado addressed a crowd of supporters on Saturday, April 18. Featured image credit: Catherine Ellis.
