Venezuelans rally for opposition leader’s return and presidential elections

Supporters of opposition figure Maria Corina Machado staged street demonstrations across Venezuela over the weekend demanding her safe return from exile and presidential elections that could open a path to a political transition. In Caracas, activists wearing the sky blue associated with Machado’s Vente Venezuela party rode motorcycles along main avenues while waving flags and sounding horns; similar actions occurred in state capitals including Valencia, Maracaibo and Merida. The rallies coincided with the arrival of Claudia Macero, Machado’s former press operator, who returned from exile amid cheers at the airport serving Caracas. Macero told supporters that Machado is trying daily to come back but that a “very difficult process” is delaying her return; she did not provide a date for Machado’s arrival. Opposition activists say the government has blocked Machado’s attempts to come home; Machado’s party reported three unsuccessful return attempts. Authorities deny those accusations. The demonstrations and Macero’s return underscored the opposition’s push for presidential elections as part of a broader transition toward democratic governance, a goal voiced by Vente Venezuela leaders during the protests. The weekend’s events come against a backdrop of international attention and political contention. The government has been accused by critics of cracking down on dissent and manipulating elections, while officials recently released more than three dozen political prisoners after a second round of US-backed talks between the interim government and opposition figures. Machado, who was barred from running in the last presidential contest by courts aligned with former President Nicolas Maduro, left the country after protests and a crackdown on dissidents; she reportedly smuggled herself out after being awarded a Nobel Prize for her democratic efforts.