María Corina's Imminent Return and the July 3 Deadline for Change in Venezuela

Omar González Moreno, a national leader of Vente Venezuela, announced on Saturday that María Corina Machado will be returning to the country "very soon." He also highlighted that the constitutional deadline of July 3, which mandates the declaration of the president's absolute absence and the calling of new elections, is fast approaching.

In an interview with CiberCuba, González Moreno discussed the civil society's response to the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela, which resulted in 920 fatalities and over 3,360 injuries.

Regarding Machado's return, González Moreno was unequivocal: "María Corina will be in Venezuela very soon. I believe that if it were up to her, she would already be traveling across the country; however, perhaps to avoid politicizing such a terrible tragedy, she has held back."

Machado has been announcing her return for months without setting a specific date. Since March 1, 2026, she has stated that she would return "within weeks," and by the end of that month, Vente Venezuela reiterated it would be "in the coming days."

Meanwhile, the party — established 14 years ago by Machado — has been working alongside universities, labor unions, and business owners to gather equipment and machinery needed for the emergency response. "This is not just a party effort, it involves the entire country. Universities, unions, and businesses are collecting equipment and machinery," González Moreno emphasized.

Constitutional Deadline Looms

One of the most pressing issues addressed by González Moreno was the constitutional deadline. "July 3 marks the 180-day period set by Venezuela's Constitution to declare the absolute absence of the president, necessitating the call for new elections," he stated.

He was firm in dismissing any possibility of extension: "There is no constitutional way to extend this any further."

This deadline has been in effect since Delcy Rodríguez assumed the interim presidency on January 5, 2026, following Nicolás Maduro's capture in the so-called "Operation Absolute Resolution."

Groups such as Acceso a la Justicia have pointed out that the concept of "forced absence," under which Rodríguez currently governs, is not recognized by the Venezuelan Constitution. Furthermore, three months after the temporary absence period expired, the pro-government National Assembly has avoided triggering electoral mechanisms.

Potential Consequences of Ignoring the Deadline

González Moreno warned that if Rodríguez attempts to remain in power beyond July 3 without calling for elections, the consequences will be severe: "If she tries to stay in power past July 3, it would break the constitutional order, effectively establishing another dictatorship."

However, he clarified that the deadline does not require elections to be held on that exact day, but rather for them to be announced: "The election doesn't necessarily need to happen on July 3, but it should be convened, ideally this year. The Venezuelan people demand it this year, and it is feasible."

He also called upon the role of Washington, describing the United States as a "great ally of the Venezuelan people" and recalling its pivotal role in bringing charges against Maduro in a New York court.

"The United States could now finish the task by insisting on compliance with the Constitution, ensuring elections are called promptly," he concluded.