It was around noon on October 25 when news broke that María Corina Machado had returned to Venezuela after almost a year in exile, following several failed attempts to come back in recent weeks. Reports on social media soon indicated that she was in Barquisimeto. I confirmed that she was in Santa Rosa, a town near Barquisimeto known for the Santa Rosa Sanctuary.
In recent years, Machado has incorporated religious references into her discourse and political persona, making her choice of the Santa Rosa Sanctuary as the setting for the formal announcement of her return somewhat unsurprising. The sanctuary is where the annual procession of the Divina Pastora begins every January 14, one of the biggest events in Venezuela’s Catholic calendar. The image of the Divina Pastora is housed in Santa Rosa.
Shortly after learning of Machado’s whereabouts, I went to Santa Rosa to witness the public reception. Near the entrance to the town, an unusual number of cars and motorcycles were parked, and people were walking toward the gathering. A large crowd had already assembled in the square in front of the Santa Rosa church. Many people took pictures with their phones, while others began singing the national anthem. As it became clear that Machado was about to leave, people shouted in the hope of seeing her, but few got the chance.
The small caravan of vehicles carrying Machado and her companions slowly made its way through the crowd, with people trying to catch at least a glimpse of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Some waved Venezuelan flags or carried signs bearing the name of Vente Venezuela, her political party. Bystanders moved alongside the vehicles, struggling to keep up as the cars slowly made their way toward the town’s entrance.
A small number of Lara state police officers, under the control of the chavista-led state government, remained at a distance from the crowd. The atmosphere, however, was entirely peaceful. As the vehicles departed, people began to disperse. Just then, a brief rain shower passed over us. Someone remarked that we were receiving a shower of blessings.
It is too early to tell what role Machado will play in Venezuela’s current political situation. But for the supporters who turned out in Santa Rosa, her return was a clear sign that good things were on the horizon.
