We’ve seen pictures coming out of Caracas of pro-government supporters gathering on the streets to show their solidarity with Nicolas Maduro.
I’ve been asked why opposition supporters aren’t out on the streets celebrating his ouster.
When I was in Caracas in December, the theory many people from all walks of life put to me was that, if Maduro “was taken down by the US”, opposition supporters would flood the streets in celebration and in support of a new government – and that would be their “moment of freedom”.
But the reason they aren’t out on the streets celebrating is simple: they don’t believe anything has significantly changed just yet.
There are also no opposition leaders physically in country to coalesce under.
Edmundo Gonzalez, the candidate who won a disputed election in July 2024, is believed to be in Spain.
Maria Corina Machado – a hugely popular opposition figure in Venezuela – left the country in December after nearly a year in hiding, to collect the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway.
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Although there were moments of euphoria when Maduro was captured in the early hours of Saturday among Venezuelans who do not support the regime, the belief that this was the start of a new chapter for the country soon turned into doubt.
When Donald Trump recognised Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, as the one in charge for the interim at his news conference, supporters of the opposition say their doubt was confirmed.
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What some outside Venezuela don’t necessarily realise, is that Maduro waged a campaign of fear and repression for years and ramped it up after the elections in 2024, arresting and locking up thousands of opposition supporters and political foes, especially key figures who could get people onto the streets.
They are still in prison.
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Opposition supporters are just not taking their chances by going out on the streets to celebrate – or to demand change.
They’re nervously waiting to see if, under pressure from the US, Ms Rodriguez turns out to be an acceptable off-ramp, a safe pair of hands for a transition until new elections can be held, when they get to vote for whoever they want as their new president.
