Exclusive | Inside Machado’s Plan to Return to Venezuela and Revive Its Democracy - WSJ

Exclusive | Inside Machado’s Plan to Return to Venezuela and Revive Its Democracy - WSJ

* What To Read Next

Inside Machado’s Plan to Return to Venezuela and Revive Its Democracy

---

The Wall Street Journal

SubscribeSign In

* + Home
+ World
+ Business
+ U.S.
+ Politics
+ Economy
+ Tech
+ Markets & Finance
+ Opinion
+ Free Expression
+ Arts
+ Lifestyle
+ Real Estate
+ Personal Finance
+ Live Coverage
+ Health
+ Style
+ Sports
+ Life & Arts
+ Print Edition
+ Video
+ Audio
+ Latest Headlines
+ Puzzles
* More
+ WSJ | Buy Side
+ The Journal Collection
+ WSJ Shop
+ WSJ Wine
* + Main
+ Africa
+ Americas
+ Asia
+ China
+ Europe
+ Middle East
+ India
+ Oceania
+ Russia
+ U.K.
+ Science
+ Anthropology
+ Biology
+ Environment
+ Physics
+ Space & Astronomy
+ World Video
+ Obituaries
* + Main
+ Airlines
+ Autos
+ C-Suite
+ Deals
+ Earnings
+ Energy & Oil
+ Entrepreneurship
+ Telecom
+ Retail
+ Hospitality
+ Logistics
+ Media
+ CFO Journal
+ CIO Journal
+ CMO Today
+ Logistics Report
+ Risk & Compliance
+ WSJ Pro Bankruptcy
+ WSJ Pro Central Banking
+ WSJ Pro Cybersecurity
+ WSJ Pro Private Equity
+ WSJ Pro Venture Capital
+ Heard on the Street
+ Journal Reports
+ Business Video
+ Business Podcast
* + Main
+ Climate & Environment
+ Education
+ Law
+ USA250
+ College Rankings 2026
+ U.S. Video
+ What's News Podcast
* + Main
+ Midterm Elections 2026
+ National Security
+ Policy
+ Politics Video
* + Main
+ Central Banking
+ Consumers
+ Housing
+ Jobs
+ Trade
+ Global
+ Capital Account
+ Economic Forecasting Survey
+ Economy Video
* + Main
+ AI
+ Biotech
+ Cybersecurity
+ Personal Technology
+ Keywords by Christopher Mims
+ Personal Tech by Joanna Stern
+ Family & Tech by Julie Jargon
+ Personal Tech by Nicole Nguyen
+ The Future of Everything
+ Tech Video
+ Tech Podcast
* + Main
+ Banking
+ Commodities & Futures
+ Currencies
+ Investing
+ Regulation
+ Stocks
+ Heard on the Street
+ Capital Account by Greg Ip
+ The Intelligent Investor by Jason Zweig
+ Tax Report by Laura Saunders
+ Streetwise by James Mackintosh
+ Markets Video
+ Your Money Briefing Podcast
+ Market Data Home
+ Companies
+ U.S. Stocks
+ Commodities
+ Bonds & Rates
+ Currencies Market Data
+ Mutual Funds & ETFs
+ Investment Banking Scorecard
+ Earnings Predictions
+ Stock Screeners
* + Main
+ Gerard Baker
+ Sadanand Dhume
+ Allysia Finley
+ James Freeman
+ William A. Galston
+ Holman W. Jenkins
+ Andy Kessler
+ William McGurn
+ Walter Russell Mead
+ Peggy Noonan
+ Mary Anastasia O'Grady
+ Jason Riley
+ Joseph Sternberg
+ Kimberley A. Strassel
+ Barton Swaim
+ Editorials
+ Commentary
+ Future View
+ Houses of Worship
+ Cross Country
+ Letters to the Editor
+ The Weekend Interview
+ Potomac Watch Podcast
+ Free Expression Podcast
+ All Things with Kim Strassel Podcast
+ Opinion Video
+ WSJ Opinion Documentaries
+ Notable & Quotable
+ Podcast Transcripts
+ Morning Editorial Report
+ All Things with Kim Strassel
+ Best of the Web
+ Opinion Spotlight
* + Main
+ Matthew Continetti
+ Dominic Green
+ Meghan Cox Gurdon
+ James B. Meigs
+ John J. Miller
+ Louise Perry
+ Ben Sasse
+ Kyle Smith
+ About Free Expression
+ Free Expression Newsletter
+ Recent Newsletters
* + Main
+ Books
+ Film
+ Fine Art
+ History
+ Music
+ Television
+ Theater
+ Appreciation
+ Architecture Review
+ Art Reviews
+ Book Reviews
+ Film Reviews
+ Television Reviews
+ Theater Reviews
+ Masterpiece Series
+ Music Reviews
+ Dance Reviews
+ Opera Reviews
+ Exhibition Reviews
+ Cultural Commentary
+ Cultural Conversation
+ WSJ Puzzles
+ What To Watch
+ Arts Calendar
+ America 250
+ America 250 Calendar
* + Main
+ Careers
+ Cars
+ Fitness
+ Food & Cooking
+ Relationships
+ Travel
+ Workplace
+ Carry On by Dawn Gilbertson
+ On The Clock by Callum Borchers
+ Elizabeth Bernstein
+ Turning Points by Clare Ansberry
+ WSJ Puzzles
+ Recipes
* + Main
+ Commercial Real Estate
+ Luxury Homes
* + Main
+ Retirement
+ Savings
+ Credit
+ Taxes
+ Mortgages
+ The Intelligent Investor by Jason Zweig
+ Tax Report by Laura Saunders
+ Streetwise by James Mackintosh
*
* + Main
+ Healthcare
+ Pharma
+ Wellness
+ Your Health by Sumathi Reddy
* + Main
+ Beauty
+ Design
+ Fashion
+ My Monday Morning
* + Main
+ Baseball
+ Basketball
+ Football
+ Golf
+ Hockey
+ Olympics
+ Soccer
+ Tennis
+ Jason Gay
*

SubscribeSign In

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by
our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact
Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.

https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/inside-machados-plan-to-return-to-venezuela-and-revive-its-democracy-5951dc98

1. exclusive
2. Americas

Inside Machado’s Plan to Return to Venezuela and Revive Its Democracy

The Nobel laureate is planning her comeback from exile in Panama, setting up a clash with the U.S.-backed interim government

---

*Photo: Johanna Alarcón for WSJ*

By

Vera Bergengruen

|

Photography by Johanna Alarcón for WSJ

Sept. 18, 2026 8:12 pm ET

PANAMA CITY—These days, María Corina Machado wakes up at 6 a.m. in a borrowed friend’s apartment near the Pacific coastline and pours herself a strong coffee.

Then, she gets back to planning the biggest gamble of her life: going back to Venezuela to push for new elections.

“I cannot lead the process from abroad,” Machado said in a rare sit-down interview last month in Panama City. “The moment to return has arrived.”

Since she escaped Venezuela in disguise last December to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway, Machado has spent nine months in exile drawing up a detailed strategy to mobilize her political movement back home. She plans to use it to press for a democratic transition even as President Trump strongly backs the interim government she hopes to replace, which has granted the U.S. sweeping access to Venezuela’s oil.

Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Continue reading your article with
a WSJ subscription

Subscribe Now

Already a subscriber? Sign In

Advertisement

*
* Use Alt + Down Arrow to expand.
* Subscribe Now
Sign In

*

News

* Live Coverage
* World
* Business
* U.S
* Politics
* Economy
* Tech
* Finance
* Arts and Culture
* Lifestyle
* Real Estate
* Personal Finance
* Health
* Style
* Sports
* China
* Science
* Ukraine
* Middle East
* Elections
* Policy
* Trade
* Investing
* Earnings
* Taxes
* AI
* Obituaries

Markets

* Stocks
* Bonds
* Money Rates
* DJIA
* S&P 500
* Nasdaq

Opinion

* Opinion & Reviews
* Film Review
* Television Review
* Bookshelf
* Music Review
* What to Watch
* Art Review

WSJ Membership

* Subscription Options
* Corporate Subscriptions
* WSJ Higher Education Program
* WSJ High School Program
* Public Library Program
* Dow Jones Events
* Commercial Partnerships
* WSJ Leadership Institute

Customer Service

* Customer Center
* Contact Us
* Cancel My Subscription

Ads

* Advertise
* Commercial Real Estate Ads
* Place a Classified Ad
* Sell Your Business
* Sell Your Home
* Recru