Nobel Laureate Maria Corina Machado Reappears After Months in Hiding

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has reemerged in public for the first time in 11 months, appearing in Oslo, Norway, where her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. Machado, who was in hiding since January after a brief detention during a protest in Caracas, made her appearance early Thursday morning, waving to supporters from a hotel balcony.

According to CBS News, she escaped Venezuela via the Dutch-controlled island of Curacao. In her absence, her daughter Ana Corina Sosa stated that Machado remains committed to returning to a free Venezuela.

Machado's Nobel Prize was awarded for her efforts in promoting democratic rights and challenging the Maduro regime. U.N. representatives and international observers have voiced concerns over the increasing authoritarianism in Venezuela, further underscoring the significance of Machado's recognition.

Machado declared that she intends to return to Venezuela regardless of the regime's status, emphasizing the weakened state of Maduro's government due to international scrutiny, particularly from the U.S.

Machado expressed gratitude for the support of those who risked their lives to facilitate her presence in Oslo, where she plans to advocate for her fellow Venezuelans. This reemergence is seen as a crucial moment for opposition efforts against the Maduro regime, potentially galvanizing further resistance and drawing global attention to the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.