Machado Declares Venezuela Transition Irreversible After Earthquake Visit

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado declared on Thursday that the political transition in her country is now irreversible. Speaking at a midday press conference in Caracas, she assessed the three days since her return as evidence that the plan is moving forward.

Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, referenced a three-phase roadmap proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. She stated that the events of the past 72 hours demonstrate that this framework is advancing on the ground.

The opposition leader traveled to the coastal state of La Guaira on Wednesday to assess the aftermath of the double earthquake that struck the region on June 24. La Guaira, formerly known as Vargas, sustained the heaviest damage from the seismic events.

During her visit, she met with residents in various sectors of the region who were displaced or affected by the disaster. Her campaign team, known as Comando con Venezuela, shared photos and videos of the trip on the social platform X.

The campaign stated that Machado’s priority upon entering the country was to be present in Vargas to support the local population. They noted that she inspected the destruction firsthand to understand the scope of the damage caused by the June 24 events.

Machado first appeared in public on Sunday after several previous attempts to enter Venezuela had failed. She led a car caravan from the western state of Lara to the capital, marking her first public appearance since crossing the border.

Since returning, she has met with members of her political party, Vente Venezuela, and leaders of the main opposition coalition, Plataforma Unitaria Democrática. She also spoke with families of political prisoners and victims of human rights violations, as well as representatives from the Alianza por Venezuela coalition.