CARACAS/MARACAY/VALENCIA, Venezuela Thousands of Venezuelans gathered to the streets Thursday in the first countrywide opposition demonstration in nearly two years, with demonstrators demanding free elections and other political changes.
US forces took President Nicolas Maduro in January and the US has been working closely with the interim government run by acting President Delcy Rodriguez. Both US President Donald Trump and Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy, have said elections will be held but have not set a date for either a legislative vote or a nationwide presidential campaign
Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Maria Corina Machado, who has been out of the country for almost a year after living in hiding after a disputed 2024 election, said elections must be held by July 2027. The protest was organised by her Vente Venezuela movement and took place in the capital, Caracas and in cities such as Valencia, Maracay, San Cristobal and Maracaibo.
Seeing this makes me joyful because I know change is possible,” said 18-year-old cosmetology student Leosmary Hernandez, gathering with hundreds of others in northern Maracay. “I’ve had a lot of problems, a lot of difficulties because of the dollar and difficulties studying. I have great aspirations for my country and our next leader, president, Maria Corina.
Also Read:
Gaza Humanitarian Crisis: UNICEF Reports 300 Children Killed in 300 Days
Why the US Launched Retaliatory Strikes on Iran: Causes and Consequences
