Venezuelans rally for opposition leader’s return and presidential elections

Hundreds of supporters of Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado have taken to the streets to demand her safe return and presidential elections that could lead to a democratic transition in the country.

In Caracas, hundreds of activists in sky blue shirts – the colour of Machado’s Vente Venezuela party – rode motorcycles through the capital’s main avenues on Sunday, honking their horns and waving Venezuelan flags. Similar demonstrations were held in state capitals, including Valencia, Maracaibo and Merida.

“This is not a matter of parties or politics,” said Flavio Valentini, a Vente Venezuela activist in Caracas who grabbed a megaphone and addressed the crowd. “This is a movement for the people and by the people.”

The weekend protests coincided with the return of Machado’s aide, Claudia Macero, to the country.

Macero, who ran press operations for Machado, returned from exile on Sunday to a cheering crowd at the airport serving Caracas.

“It is time to come home. It is time to recover the country,” Macero said as supporters sang the national anthem.

But she said that she did not yet know when Machado herself would be able to return.

“Maria Corina is trying every day to come home,” she said. “Evidently there is a very difficult process, but this will come to an end.”