Venezuela's acting president calls Machado's return a “show” and urges dialogue as her party is excluded from ongoing talks

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez described opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's return to Venezuela as a “show” and urged her to move beyond such displays and focus on serious political dialogue. Machado returned on Sunday after spending more than 10 months abroad, traveling from Barquisimeto to Caracas, where supporters gathered to welcome her.

Rodriguez accused Machado of harming Venezuela by calling for international sanctions and foreign intervention, and said she hoped Machado would show remorse and repentance. Rodriguez denied that political persecution exists in Venezuela, while saying that she and her family had been politically persecuted. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that Machado's return had been made possible by reconciliation efforts supported by Washington.

Machado's party, Vente Venezuela, has been excluded from ongoing talks between government representatives and opposition factions, drawing criticism from opposition figures. The government says it remains committed to political dialogue as discussions continue amid efforts to reshape political institutions and prepare for eventual elections; no date has been set for the vote.