Background on Key Figures and Context
Nicolás Maduro, the former president of Venezuela, was captured along with his wife, Cilia Flores, during a U.S. bombing raid last week. The chavista leadership, including prominent figures like Jorge Rodríguez, Diosdado Cabello, and Delcy Rodríguez, did not participate in the rallies.
Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, assumed interim power and pledged to “rescue” Maduro from the U.S. She also initiated steps to reestablish diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the U.S., which were severed in 2019, and promised to free political prisoners.
Rallies and Reactions
Supporters of Maduro marched on Saturday to demand his freedom, with around 1,000 people chanting “Maduro and Cilia are our family!” in western Caracas.
“I will march as many times as necessary until Nicolás and Cilia return,” said Soledad Rodríguez, a 69-year-old retiree at the rally in the popular El Valle neighborhood. “I have complete faith that they will return because they are being held captive. They will come back with us, and as a sovereign people, we will achieve it.”
Teresa Gutierrez and Yusleidys Arroyo, also present at the rally, expressed their unwavering support for Maduro’s return.
Notable chavista leaders, including Rodríguez, Cabello, and Delcy Rodríguez, did not attend the rallies. State TV broadcast a visit by the interim president to an agricultural fair in Petare, another Caracas neighborhood where a small gathering for Maduro took place.
“I Will Not Lose Hope”
The Saturday rally coincides with the anniversary of Maduro’s inauguration for a third term following disputed elections. The opposition, the U.S., and other countries demanded Maduro present election results without success.
“I will march as many times as necessary until Nicolás and Cilia return,” said Rodríguez, vowing to rescue Maduro. “We will definitely bring him back.”
U.S. Control Over Venezuelan Oil Industry
President Trump announced control over Venezuelan crude oil sales and selected U.S. companies to restart the industry with investments up to $10 billion.
On Saturday, Trump issued a decree protecting Venezuelan income in the U.S., including oil revenues, from being frozen.
Trump has not yet threatened a “second wave of attacks” on Venezuela but continues pressure in the Caribbean, where U.S. forces seized a fifth oil tanker attempting to evade them.
A U.S. diplomatic mission visited Caracas on Friday to assess a “gradual resumption” of ties. It remains unclear if they met with Rodríguez, as her office did not respond to AFP requests for comment.
These advances do not currently imply a regime change. Former opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, exiled in Spain, called for explicit recognition of his 2024 election victory, which he believes Maduro fraudulently stole.
María Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, will meet with Trump next week. Initially excluded from his Venezuela plan during the country’s worst economic crisis under Maduro, she has since been included.
Slow Release of Political Prisoners
NGOs estimate between 800 and 1,200 political prisoners in Venezuela. However, only 20 people have been released two days after the announcement of liberations.
There are no official figures. Foro Penal reports 15 releases, while other NGOs count up to 21, including former presidential candidate Enrique Márquez and human rights activist Rocío San Miguel.
Dozens of families have spent two days camped outside detention centers like El Rodeo I, hoping for news. Guards claim to have no information.
On Saturday, visitors followed the established protocol for years: bringing hygiene products, entering, having their faces covered, and viewing loved ones through glass.
Detainees celebrated Maduro’s capture, with one telling his wife, “The worst is over,” in front of heavily armed guards.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the key figures mentioned in the article? Nicolás Maduro, Cilia Flores, Jorge Rodríguez, Diosdado Cabello, Delcy Rodríguez, and María Corina Machado.
- What happened during the U.S. bombing raid? Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores were captured and taken to New York for a narcotráfico trial.
- What actions has Delcy Rodríguez taken since assuming interim power? She has pledged to rescue Maduro, initiated steps to reestablish diplomatic relations with the U.S., and promised to free political prisoners.
- How many political prisoners have been released so far? Only around 20 people have been freed, despite estimates of 800 to 1,200 political prisoners in Venezuela.
