María Corina Machado Demands Freedom for Venezuelan Political Prisoners
Opposition leader visits El Rodeo prison to support families of detained political activists.
1Direct Support at Prison
María Corina Machado visited the El Rodeo I prison gates this Friday to address political detainees directly. Using a megaphone, she called out individual names of the 400 prisoners currently held there. Her presence aimed to provide moral support to those detained and the families camping outside the facility for months.
2Families in Permanent Vigil
Families of the detainees have maintained a continuous vigil at the prison entrance for 302 days. They are protesting against unfulfilled promises regarding excarcerations and the lack of a non-selective amnesty program. These relatives wear white shirts bearing the names and images of their imprisoned loved ones while awaiting official action.
3Scale of Political Detention
Machado highlighted that the official count of political prisoners does not reflect the true scale of the crisis. Many families fear reporting disappearances, leaving the exact number of victims unknown. Since 2015, at least 23 political prisoners have died while in state custody, underscoring the severe risks faced by those currently detained.
4Cumulative Years of Imprisonment
The opposition leader emphasized the staggering human cost of these detentions, noting that the known prisoners collectively face 1,756 years of confinement. She demanded full freedom for both civilian and military detainees, rejecting the current cautelary measures that grant only limited release. Her goal remains total amnesty and legal justice for victims.
5Stalled National Dialogue
The national reconciliation dialogue remains slow, having only secured conditional releases for approximately 1,000 individuals so far. These measures fall short of the full freedom demanded by the opposition. Machado insists that the current process lacks the necessary guarantees to ensure that such systemic political persecution never occurs again in Venezuela.
6Political Context and Returns
Machado returned to Venezuela on October 25 and has been actively engaging with various social sectors. Meanwhile, rumors circulate regarding the potential return of Edmundo González Urrutia, the president-elect according to opposition tallies, who has been in exile in Madrid. His return could significantly shift the current political landscape in the country.
7International Diplomatic Proposals
Machado and González issued a joint statement during the Ibero-American Summit in Madrid supporting a U.S. State Department proposal. This plan includes establishing a new Supreme Court in December and a new National Electoral Council by February. They advocate for holding new national elections by July 24, 2027, to restore democratic order.
8Future Democratic Aspirations
The opposition leaders envision a future where the next Ibero-American Summit is hosted in a democratic Caracas. Their strategy focuses on international pressure combined with domestic mobilization to force a transition. By aligning with international timelines, they aim to secure the release of all political prisoners and restore constitutional rule nationwide.