Venezuela's opposition alliance confirms Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado as its leader

19 October 2026

Venezuela's opposition Unitary Democratic Platform (PUD) confirmed exiled Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado as its leader at a meeting in Caracas on Sunday, October 18, 2026, agreeing in its final document to 'recognise and support the leadership of Maria Corina Machado'. The alliance put forward 14 proposals for a democratic transition, including full freedom for political parties, the lifting of bans on candidates, the unconditional release of all political prisoners and the safe return of exiles, along with a roadmap for general elections; it set no date for a vote. Machado, who is living in Panama, has been in exile since she left Venezuela in December 2025 to receive her Nobel Peace Prize, and her party says Venezuelan authorities have blocked her attempts to return. Venezuela has been led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez since January, after former president Nicolas Maduro was captured by the United States military and flown to stand trial in New York.