Venezuelan opposition supporters rally in Caracas, demanding 2027 election roadmap and their leader’s return

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets of Caracas on Thursday to demand an official electoral timeline for 2027 presidential elections, the safe return of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and the immediate release of all political prisoners.

Organized by Vente Venezuela and partner parties within the Democratic Unitary Platform, the demonstration coincided with the third anniversary of the Oct. 22, 2023 opposition primary in which Machado was elected the standard-bearer for the democratic coalition.

Since late May, Machado has been staying in Panama, where she has received support from President Jose Raul Mulino. Machado has made at least seven unsuccessful attempts to return to Venezuela from exile.

The gathering, originally set for 4 pm local time outside Polar Tower in Plaza Venezuela, was moved to the Tamanaco Gate at the Central University of Venezuela, also at 4 pm, after state authorities and the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) organized a competing mobilization at Plaza Venezuela.

Prominent opposition youth leaders including Carlos Fernandez and Henry Alviarez presented the rally, held under the banner "Elections Now" and the slogan "The date of the elections is the date of liberation," as the opening phase of a renewed campaign of peaceful mass mobilization. Mass protests were also seen in other cities across the country.

Concurrently, supporters of the ruling administration took to the streets in Plaza Venezuela in Caracas for a government-sponsored "Pink Month" march honoring women and raising awareness for breast cancer prevention. Pro-government marchers, clad in pink caps and scarves, proceeded along Libertador and Urdaneta avenues toward Santa Capilla, prompting security forces to implement major downtown road closures.

Thursday’s mobilization came amid mounting social friction across Venezuela. On Wednesday, the non-governmental organization Venezuelan Observatory on Social Conflict reported documenting 1,101 protests nationwide in September, an average of 37 daily demonstrations, with 531 specifically protesting severe power outages and chronic failures in public electricity services.

Laura Gamba Fadul