Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado tried to enter Venezuela three times within roughly 48 hours and was prevented each time, according to EL PAÍS. The attempts came while Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was in the United States for the United Nations General Assembly, the outlet reported.
EL PAÍS put the first report at Wednesday, 23 September 2026. Other Spanish-language outlets carried similar accounts. El Mundo said Machado was left stranded in Panama after being stopped from re-entering Venezuela three times over the previous two days. Diario Público described the same three attempts as unsuccessful, noting they unfolded during Rodríguez's trip to the United States.
The outlets differ on how many times Machado has tried to get back into the country overall. ABC referred to seven attempts, while OkDiario reported that she had tried to return to Venezuela on as many as seven occasions without success. EL PAÍS's account focused on the three attempts in the recent window.
Machado is a leading figure in Venezuela's opposition. The reports place her outside the country and unable to cross back in, with Panama cited as where she was stuck after the failed attempts. The material available does not include statements from Machado, Venezuelan authorities or Rodríguez, and no reason was given for why she was blocked.
What to watch next: whether Machado makes another attempt to enter Venezuela, and whether Venezuelan officials or Rodríguez respond to the reports.
