Venezuelans around the world celebrate Maduro's capture
Venezuelan exiles around the world, in cities such as Madrid, Miami, and several European and Latin American capitals, have taken to the streets to celebrate the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by the United States.
Spain is a key country for the Venezuelan diaspora. More than half a million people of Venezuelan origin live here, making it the largest colony of the Caribbean country outside of America. Since midday, dozens of Venezuelans living in the Spanish capital have gathered at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid to show their joy and relief at Maduro's arrest.
Dressed in flags and banners, they danced, sang the country's anthem, shouted in support of María Corina Machado and for a “free Venezuela,” and in some cases cried with joy. One child carried a sign that read “I'm going to meet my grandparents,” according to TVE.
“They have given us back part of our lives”
“I feel that they have given us back part of our lives, of our dreams. We are celebrating, but we are very concerned because our family is still in Venezuela,” he explained to TVE. “We demand that they open the doors of the torture centers and release the political prisoners,” claimed a young Venezuelan woman.
Some emigrants also demonstrated in front of the Venezuelan Consulate in Madrid, expressing their joy and assuring that they will return to their country if Maduro's government falls. However, concern for their families and friends in the country remains. “Between euphoria and caution,” said one of the demonstrators.
Celebrations have also taken place in Santiago, Chile, and Lima, Peru, where there is a large community of Venezuelan migrants.
Demonstrations against the intervention in Venezuela
Meanwhile, within the country, the ruling party is demonstrating against the US military aggression and demanding the return of the Chavista leader.
In Tenerife, where there is a large Venezuelan community, supporters of Chavismo have taken to the streets in a demonstration organized by the Bolivarian Canarian Platform. They marched behind a banner reading “Yanquis out of Venezuela and the Caribbean.” There were some tense moments when opponents of the regime approached and shouted insults at them.
There was also an impromptu rally in downtown Caracas against the US bombing and Donald Trump's order to capture Maduro. “We are in the streets demanding proof of life, demanding the return of our president, who has been kidnapped,” said the mayor of the capital and admiral, Carmen Meléndez, in statements to the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), describing the attack as “hostile.”
Dressed in an olive green military uniform, Meléndez was accompanied by a group of people carrying images and pictures of Maduro and the late President Hugo Chávez. According to the mayor, Chavismo will not withdraw from the streets until the whereabouts of the head of state are known.