In Oslo, just hours after her first public appearance in nearly a year, María Corina Machado spoke with the international press. The Venezuelan opposition leader, awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, spent nearly an hour answering questions about her secret departure from Venezuela, the risks of returning, and her outlook on the country’s political crisis.

Will you return to Venezuela even though the Maduro regime says you must go to prison?

“Of course I will return. My duty is to be wherever I can best serve our cause. Whether Maduro stays in power or not changes nothing: I am going back. And the regime won’t know where I am. We have ways to protect ourselves.”

Machado stressed that despite the threats, she does not consider permanent exile: “My place is with my people.”

How did you manage to leave the country? Did you really travel by boat to Curaçao, as U.S. media reported?

“I cannot confirm or deny that. Leaving Venezuela today is extremely dangerous. The regime calls me a terrorist, says I should spend the rest of my life in prison, and they are actively looking for me.”

She explained that providing details would put several people at risk: “I am here because many men and women risked their lives. One day I’ll be able to tell the story.”

What was it like to reunite with your family after so long?

“For more than 16 months I couldn’t hug or touch anyone. Suddenly I was able to see my loved ones, touch them, cry and pray together. I missed graduations, I missed my daughter’s wedding, one of my son’s weddings. This reunion was heartbreaking and radiant.”

She wore several rosaries, which she said were gifts from supporters who approached her at the hotel.

Do you believe Venezuela could be the subject of a U.S. military intervention?

“Many people talk about an invasion. I answer: Venezuela has already been invaded. We have Russian and Iranian agents, Hezbollah, Hamas, Colombian guerrillas, drug cartels. They have turned Venezuela into the criminal hub of the Americas.”

Machado avoided explicitly supporting an intervention: “We are not asking for war. We are asking the international community to cut off the regime’s sources of financing.”

Do you think the regime knew where you were hiding?

“I don’t think so. If they had known, they would have done everything possible to stop me from coming to Oslo. I remained hidden with a lot of support and a great deal of discipline.”

What message do you send to the Venezuelan people after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize?

“When you fight for freedom, you fight for humanity. And when we win — because we will win — Venezuela will be a bright, democratic and free country.”

What does this award represent for the Venezuelan opposition?

“It is a recognition of the sacrifice of millions. This is not about me. It is about a country that refuses to give up.”

What is your message to the international community?

“I ask you to stop the violence, the repression, and the financial lifelines that sustain the regime. The criminal structure that governs Venezuela is transnational and extremely dangerous.”

The conference ended with a symbolic message: Machado thanked those who helped her reach Oslo and reiterated that her return is non-negotiable. Meanwhile, hundreds of Venezuelans continue gathering outside her hotel, waving flags and calling for a “free Venezuela.”