Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, declared yesterday that the country is stepping into a “new era” marked by greater tolerance toward political rivals, following the dramatic ouster of former leader Nicolas Maduro by US forces on January 3.
Speaking at her first press conference since taking power, Rodriguez positioned herself as a unifying figure. “Venezuela is opening up to a new political era,” she told reporters at the presidential palace, highlighting the importance of understanding despite political and ideological differences.
After 12 years under Maduro’s repressive rule, Rodriguez said the nation was finally embracing a period of dialogue and inclusivity.
Following Maduro’s removal, US President Donald Trump allowed Rodriguez to assume leadership, as long as she aligned with Washington’s policies. This move sidelined Nobel Peace Prize laureate and anti-Maduro opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who Trump claimed lacked sufficient respect in Venezuela. Machado is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House today to advocate for a democratic transition that includes her and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, her candidate in Venezuela’s 2024 elections, which the opposition alleges were stolen by Maduro.
While Trump has focused on Venezuela’s rich oil reserves, he revealed that a second military action had been planned until authorities announced the release of large numbers of political prisoners. Rodriguez stated that 406 detainees had been freed since December, though the Foro Penal rights NGO and other sources report smaller numbers — around 70 to 180 — including some Americans.
The recent releases included 17 journalists and media workers, among them Roland Carreno, a journalist and opposition activist imprisoned for over a year after post-election protests. Carreno, who had previously been detained between 2020 and 2023 on terrorism charges, called for “peace and reconciliation” in a video shared by fellow journalists. Political analyst Nicmer Evans, director of Punto de Corte news outlet, was also released.
Rodriguez is walking a fine line, meeting US expectations while managing Maduro loyalists who still control the security and intelligence services. To avoid public celebrations, many detainees have been quietly released away from media attention, including Carreno, who was freed at a shopping mall, and former presidential candidate Enrique Marquez, driven home in a patrol car.
Some Spanish and Italian citizens have also regained freedom recently, while Americans had secured theirs through prior negotiations with Maduro.
On the domestic front, Venezuelans regained access to the social media platform X on Tuesday after over a year of government blockage. Rodriguez updated her profile to read “acting president,” writing: “Let us stay united, moving toward economic stability, social justice, and the welfare state we deserve to aspire to.” Even Maduro’s account saw a post featuring him and his wife, with the caption: “We want you back.”
For many Venezuelans, these changes, though tentative, bring a renewed sense of hope. After years of fear, arrests, and political turmoil, ordinary citizens are beginning to glimpse a Venezuela where freedom, dialogue, and opportunity may once again flourish.
