Venezuelans demand elections in first national protest in nearly two years

Thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets in several cities to demand free elections and other political changes, in the first nationwide opposition protest in nearly two years.

The demonstration, organised by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's Vente Venezuela movement, took place in the capital Caracas and other cities. Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been outside the country, has emerged as the face of the opposition.

"Seeing this makes me happy because I know change is possible," an 18-year-old cosmetology student told reporters at the protest.

The march comes as Venezuela remains in political limbo. Since January 3, the country has been led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez of the long-governing socialist PSUV, after the United States launched a military operation to capture and jail former President Nicolas Maduro. US President Donald Trump has backed Rodriguez's leadership, despite her having been Maduro's vice president, while his administration has kept an active role in Venezuela -- exerting control over its oil resources and pressing the interim government for reforms.

Trump and Rodriguez have both said elections will be held, but no date has been set to choose Maduro's successor.

Meanwhile, US-backed talks between a faction of the opposition and the interim government -- aimed at remaking the top court and the electoral council ahead of eventual elections -- are continuing, though they do not include Machado's movement. Machado's proxy Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia claims to have won the 2024 election, according to opposition vote tallies.