CARACAS — Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez broke her silence Monday on María Corina Machado’s return, saying the opposition leader could have avoided a “show.” She denied there is political persecution in Venezuela and declined to say whether Machado will take part in the U.S.-backed talks. It was her first public response, more than a day after Machado arrived in Caracas to crowds of supporters.

Speaking to reporters after an event at a military women’s care center, Rodríguez said politics “should truly cease to be a show, because politics is something very serious,” 2001online reported.

EFE reported that she said Machado “could have avoided staging a show.” Demócrata quotes her as adding: “Let’s move away from the show and concentrate on making politics very serious.”

Asked how Machado entered the country, Rodríguez said it was “indifferent” to her. Two outlets said she noted that many beneficiaries of Venezuela’s Amnesty Law have returned from exile through airports. She did not say whether Machado used that route.

Machado’s entry has not been officially explained. Reuters, citing four people familiar with the trip, reported she flew from Panama to Colombia and crossed into Venezuela by land.

“No political persecution”

Rodríguez said: “There is no political persecution in Venezuela.” Rodríguez added that she and her family were themselves persecuted, a reference to her past.

TalCual noted that at least seven people were detained for several hours on October 23 after a rally marking three years since the opposition primaries, and that Vente Venezuela members have been briefly detained in recent months. Rodríguez did not address political prisoners in the reports I saw.

Rodríguez called the negotiating table “something very serious” that requires “a lot of experience,” and said it should stay “away from neophyte spaces.” She said she hopes it remains a space for political participation where “voices of good” are heard.

She named Dinorah Figuera, who leads the opposition delegation and represents the 2015 National Assembly, and Jorge Rodríguez, the Assembly president and her brother, as participants.

Three rounds have covered political and justice reforms, economic recovery and recovery of assets abroad. She did not say whether Machado will join, though the delegation has Washington’s backing.

On Monday, Machado’s spokesperson Claudia Macero said Machado is willing to sit down with Rodríguez “with an agenda,” and that any credible transition cannot leave Machado out.

Rodríguez did not answer directly.

Internal Divides

Without naming Machado, Rodríguez said she expects “repentance, remorse, rectification” from those who requested sanctions or outside pressure on Venezuela. She hoped they could “contribute something to the country.”

“This country is much bigger than any person, or two or three people,” she said.

Machado has praised the U.S. operation that captured Nicolás Maduro in January.

In an interview that month, Machado called Rodríguez “one of the main architects” of Maduro’s government, CBS reported. Machado is on record that she will judge the U.S.-backed process by its results and not obstruct it.

No presidential election date is set. Rodríguez has promised a vote, and Machado’s party wants one in 2027 with Machado allowed to run.