Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets demanding free elections and political reforms amid uncertainty over the country’s political future.
Yesterday, the first nationwide opposition protest in nearly two years was held in Caracas and several other cities, including Valencia, Maracay, San Cristobal and Maracaibo. Security forces maintained a limited presence at protest sites, while demonstrators in several smaller cities dispersed before dark. The protests come months after US forces captured former President Nicolas Maduro in January. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy, is now leading the country’s government with US backing.
Both Rodriguez and US President Donald Trump have expressed support for holding elections but have yet to announce dates for legislative or presidential polls. Machado has called for elections to be held by July 2027.
Machado, who received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, has been outside Venezuela for nearly a year after going into hiding following the disputed 2024 election. Opposition vote tallies indicated that her candidate won the presidential contest, but Maduro’s government rejected the claim and never released complete official results.
Meanwhile, US-backed negotiations between opposition factions and the interim government are focusing on reforms to the Supreme Court and electoral council to improve the fairness of future elections.
