Thousands of Maduro supporters march in Caracas demanding his freedom, as interim president Rodriguez balances US ties and domestic political pressure
CARACAS: Thousands of supporters of Venezuela’s ousted former leader Nicolas Maduro marched in Caracas to demand his freedom.
The demonstration occurred a month after Maduro was toppled in a US military operation and taken to New York to face drug charges.
Protesters, many of them public sector workers, chanted “Venezuela needs Nicolas” and held photos of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The government-called march stretched for several hundred metres, accompanied by trucks blaring music.
Maduro’s son, Nicolas “Nicolasito” Maduro Guerra, addressed the crowd, stating “We have achieved a profound anti-imperialist consciousness.”
Many protesters waved Venezuelan flags and wore the red colours of the ruling “Chavista” socialist movement.
Interim president Delcy Rodriguez is balancing support from Washington with pressure from Maduro loyalists within her government.
US President Donald Trump has said he is willing to work with Rodriguez if she aligns with Washington’s demands, particularly regarding Venezuela’s oil reserves.
Under pressure, Rodriguez has begun freeing political prisoners and opened the nationalised hydrocarbons industry to private investment.
Diplomatic relations, severed in 2019, were rekindled with the arrival of US envoy Laura Dogu in Caracas.
Dogu outlined a three-phase plan aiming for a “stable, prosperous and democratic Venezuela,” which Rodriguez described as a “frank conversation.”
Earlier on Tuesday, hundreds of students and relatives of political prisoners marched, calling for the quick approval of a promised amnesty law.
Rodriguez said she is working “intensely” on the amnesty law to address a “period of political violence.”
The law has not yet been presented to parliament, which is led by the acting president’s brother, Jorge Rodriguez.
Opposition deputy Stalin Gonzalez said he expects the first debate on amnesty to occur on Thursday.
Anti-government protests had been rare since a crackdown on demonstrations against Maduro’s contested 2024 re-election.
More than 2,000 people were jailed during that period, with the crowd now chanting “Freedom is in the streets and no one can stop it!”
The opposition continues to call for fresh elections following Maduro’s ouster.
