Thousands of Venezuelans demonstrated in the capital Caracas on Thursday, calling for a confirmed timetable for the 2027 presidential elections, the safe return of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and the immediate release of political prisoners.
The demonstrations were organised by Vente Venezuela and allied parties within the Democratic Unitary Platform, marking the third anniversary of the opposition primary held on October 22, 2023, in which Machado emerged as the coalition’s presidential candidate.
Protesters gathered under the banner “Elections Now”, adopting the slogan “The date of the elections is the date of liberation” to emphasise their demands for a clear electoral schedule.
Opposition youth leaders, including Carlos Fernandez and Henry Alviarez, described the mobilisation as the beginning of a renewed campaign of peaceful public demonstrations aimed at securing political change.
Similar opposition protests were also reported in several other Venezuelan cities.
Opposition Demands Machado’s Return
The demonstrators also called for the safe return of Machado, who has been staying in Panama since late May.
During her time there, she has received support from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.
According to the report, Machado has made at least seven unsuccessful attempts to return to Venezuela from exile.
Her supporters have continued to demand guarantees for her return, alongside the release of individuals they describe as political prisoners.
Rival Demonstrations Held in Caracas
The opposition rally was initially scheduled to take place outside Polar Tower in Plaza Venezuela at 4 pm local time.
However, organisers relocated the gathering to the Tamanaco Gate at the Central University of Venezuela, retaining the original starting time after authorities and the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) arranged a separate mobilisation in Plaza Venezuela.
At the same time, government supporters participated in a “Pink Month” march organised to honour women and promote breast cancer awareness and prevention.
Participants wearing pink caps and scarves marched along Libertador and Urdaneta avenues towards Santa Capilla.
Security forces introduced extensive road closures in central Caracas to manage the simultaneous gatherings.
Social Unrest Continues Across Venezuela
Thursday’s demonstrations took place amid continuing public dissatisfaction over political and economic conditions, including persistent problems with essential services.
On Wednesday, the Venezuelan Observatory on Social Conflict, a non-governmental organisation, reported recording 1,101 protests nationwide during September, equivalent to an average of approximately 37 demonstrations per day.
Of those protests, 531 were related to severe electricity outages and recurring failures in public power services, according to the organisation.
The figures highlight the scale of public grievances extending beyond the country’s political disputes, with unreliable electricity supplies emerging as a major source of frustration.
The opposition has indicated that Thursday’s demonstrations form part of a broader peaceful mobilisation campaign centred on electoral demands, political freedoms and the return of its leadership.