Thousands of Venezuelans marched in cities across the country on Thursday, demanding free elections and political change in the first nationwide opposition protest in nearly two years.
Demonstrations took place in the capital Caracas and several other cities, including Valencia, Maracay, San Cristobal and Maracaibo. The protest was organised by the Vente Venezuela movement, led by opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado.
Machado has spent nearly a year outside Venezuela after living in hiding following a disputed 2024 election. She has called for elections to take place by July 2027.
"Seeing this makes me happy because I know change is possible," said 18-year-old cosmetology student Leosmary Hernandez, who gathered with hundreds of others in northern Maracay. "I've been through so many hardships, so many problems because of the dollar, and difficulties studying. I have high hopes for my country and for our next leader and president, Maria Corina."
"I went out to protest before, when things were much tougher, and I'm even less afraid today because I want my voice to be heard," she added.
The protests come amid continued political uncertainty following the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro by US forces in a military raid in January. No date has been set for elections to determine his successor.
Venezuela has been led since January 3 by interim President Delcy Rodriguez, formerly Maduro's vice president, representing the long-governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela. US President Donald Trump has expressed support for Rodriguez's leadership, and his administration has maintained an active role in the country, exerting influence over its oil resources and pressing the Rodriguez government for reforms.
Both Trump and Rodriguez have stated that elections will be held, but no timeline has been announced.
Venezuela's socialist movement, in power since 1999 under the late President Hugo Chavez and then Maduro, has previously deployed security forces against protesters. On Thursday, however, government forces had a minimal presence at protest sites. In many smaller cities, demonstrators dispersed before dark.
The ruling Socialist Party organised a parallel march, calling its supporters to gather at Caracas' Plaza Venezuela — the same location the opposition had initially planned to use — before moving toward the presidential palace to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, known for his close ties to the security services, was shown on state television attending the government march. Opposition supporters relocated their protest to a nearby area.
Separate talks between a faction of the opposition and the interim government, backed by the United States, are ongoing. The negotiations focus on reforming the country's top court and electoral council ahead of eventual elections. The latest session was held this month, though significant changes are expected to take time.
Machado's political movement is not part of those talks, though she has said she will not obstruct their progress.
Her proxy, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, claims to have won the 2024 presidential election based on opposition vote tallies. The government, which never released full official results, had backed Maduro, as did the country's legal and electoral institutions.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face drug and torture charges in the United States. The United Socialist Party has faced accusations of carrying out human rights abuses against political dissidents, including arbitrary arrest, imprisonment and torture.
