Protests throughout Venezuela demand return of María Corina Machado

A venezuelan opposition today called for a national mobilization for Thursday to demand presidential elections, the release of political prisoners and the safe return of opposition Maria Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize 2025, Caracas.

The announcement was made during a press conference in Caracas by youth leader Carlos Alberto Fernández of Vente Venezuela, the party of Maria Corina Machado, on behalf of the opposition coalition Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD).

“ On October 22, Venezuela will mobilize in all states of this country, simultaneously (...) All sectors of this country will be mobilized, the political parties of the Unitary Platform and those outside it,” he said.

According to Carlos Alberto Fernández, the mobilizations have “four very clear demands”, the first being “the safe return of Maria Corina Machado to the country” to “reestablish order peacefully” and “accelerated the transition”.

The second demand, he said, is an election calendar for regional and presidential elections in the country.

The third requirement is that the presidential elections be held on 24 July 2027, date of birth in 1783, of Simón Bolívar, known as ‘The Liberator’.

“And the fourth demand, and one of the most important, is the full freedom of political prisoners. No more keeping our Venezuelan brothers kidnapped,” he said, “there are still political prisoners who do not know where they are, whose whereabouts are unknown.”.

During the announcement, Carlos Alberto Fernández, anticipated that it will be “an historic demonstration” that will take place in Caracas at 16:00 locals (21.00 in Lisbon) in Plaza Venezuela.

The opponent argued that there are even more reasons to express, among them, the situation of the country, which worsens as interim President Delcy Rodríguez remains in power – after replacing Nicolás Maduro, captured by American forces at the beginning of the year.

“Venetarian goes through one of the most difficult moments in its history. Not only did we have to deal with the biggest wave of persecution, torture and exile in the history of our country. From families destroyed because of the regime of Nicolás Maduro and Delcy Rodríguez, we now also have to deal with a country in the dark, which spends 8, 10 and 11 hours [a day] without light. A country that has no water supply, for days, months, weeks,” he said.

He also denounced that there are “teachers who cannot teach because they cannot do it”, “mothers who cannot send their children to school” and that the “country is starving”.

“ The more time Delcy remain in power, in Miraflores, more lives are lost, in hunger, in darkness and we cannot continue to allow this, because the need, the urgency that exists is real ", appealed.