Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a Nobel laureate, has spent the last several years in exile, with her plans to return to the country repeatedly thwarted. The setbacks have sparked a wave of rallies across Venezuela, as supporters call for her safe return and for the holding of free presidential elections.
Machado has been a prominent figure in the opposition to President Nicolás Madrigal’s administration. Her exile began after a series of legal and security challenges that made it difficult for her to operate within the country. Despite multiple attempts, authorities have blocked her return, citing a range of procedural and security concerns.
In recent weeks, streets in Caracas and other major cities have filled with demonstrators demanding that Machado be allowed to come back and that the government hold elections that reflect the will of the Venezuelan people. The rallies have been largely peaceful, with participants holding signs and chanting slogans in support of democratic reform.
While the protests have not yet led to a change in policy, they underscore the growing frustration among Venezuelans who feel that the political process has been stalled. The opposition continues to press for a return to normalcy and for the restoration of democratic institutions.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>