Overview
- Machado said in Panama on Saturday, May 23, 2026, that she will be a candidate in forthcoming “clean and free” presidential elections and welcomed other challengers.
- She said her return to Venezuela will be coordinated with the United States and that she expects to be back before the end of 2026 to support the transition effort.
- Machado identified the urgent need for an independent National Electoral Council made up of nonpartisan, credible members, and she called for an updated voter registry to ensure fair contests.
- She argued that enabling millions of Venezuelans abroad to vote is essential, noting that roughly 4 to 5 million expatriates were effectively excluded from the July 28, 2024 vote.
- No official election date has been set and key elements remain unresolved, including CNE reform, voter-roll updates, and international coordination on security and logistics, which Machado says require about seven to nine months of preparation.