- Nicolas Maduro Guerra, a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, described the January 3 operation as a lasting wound on the nation’s history
- Many participants waved placards and wore customised shirts demanding the return of the detained leaders
- Among the protesters was 58-year-old municipal worker Jose Perdomo, who said the situation had left many citizens overwhelmed with emotion
Crowds filled the streets of Caracas on Tuesday as thousands of Venezuelans staged a massive protest calling for the release of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, one month after the couple were seized by US forces during a violent overnight operation.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the demonstration, tagged “Gran Marcha” (The Great March), saw supporters chanting slogans such as “Venezuela needs Nicolas!” while marching through the capital.
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Many participants waved placards and wore customised shirts demanding the return of the detained leaders, who are currently being held in a US prison.
Several banners carried strong messages accusing Washington of unlawfully taking the president. One read, “The empire kidnapped them. We want them back.”
Addressing the gathering, Maduro’s son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, described the January 3 operation as a lasting wound on the nation’s history.
He said the raid represented a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty, adding that the presence of foreign troops on national soil would never be forgotten.
The protest, organised by the government and largely attended by public sector workers, stretched across several hundred metres of the city. Music blared from accompanying trucks as demonstrators moved through the streets in a show of solidarity.
According to local outlet Venezuela News, the Caracas rally formed part of a wider “global day of action,” with similar demonstrations held in different parts of the world under slogans such as “Bring them back” and “Hands off Venezuela.”
The outlet noted that the international mobilisation brought together people from varying political backgrounds, united by the belief that Maduro and Flores’ detention breaches international law and threatens national sovereignty.
Among the protesters was 58-year-old municipal worker Jose Perdomo, who said the situation had left many citizens overwhelmed with emotion.
He expressed confidence that the president would eventually be released and voiced support for interim leader Delcy Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, who assumed the role of acting president following Maduro’s detention, has attempted to balance internal political pressures with growing demands from Washington.
US President Donald Trump has indicated a willingness to engage with her administration, provided Venezuela complies with US conditions including granting the US greater control over the country’s oil resources.
In recent weeks, Rodriguez has adopted a conciliatory approach, releasing hundreds of political detainees and opening the state-controlled oil sector to private investors, while also promising political reforms and national reconciliation.
Earlier in the day, separate demonstrations were held by university students and families of political prisoners, who urged swift passage of a proposed amnesty law. Although the measure has been promised by the interim government, it has yet to be presented before parliament.
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