Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado called Thursday in Caracas for presidential elections in 2027, in her first public remarks since returning from more than 10 months in exile, Al Jazeera, BBC and DW reported^1,2,3.

Machado thanked President Donald Trump, his administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for U.S. action on Jan. 3, the outlets reported^1,2,3. She was referring to the U.S. capture of former President Nicolás Maduro, who faces U.S. charges he denies^1,3.

She said Rubio had outlined steps toward a democratic transition that includes 2027 presidential elections^1,3. BBC reported she described the transition as irreversible, organized and pacific².

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said the same day that elections would be held with the world as witness but did not give a date^1,2,3. Machado said a government-run transition of that scale was illogical, BBC reported².

Machado said she had not received a meeting invitation from Rodríguez or from Washington^1,2. She said a U.S.-Caracas oil arrangement for 20 percent of Venezuelan reserves lacked the transparency society wanted^1,3.

DW said her return complicates U.S. policy because Washington has also backed Rodríguez³.