Pro-government and anti-government groups held rival demonstrations in Caracas as the country navigates uncertainty under Acting President Delcy Rodriguez.
In one strand of the unrest, supporters of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) marched through the capital demanding the return of the detained former leader.
The protests were organized by PSUV Secretary General Diosdado Cabello and street mobilization chief Nahum Fernandez, with demonstrators gathering early to denounce foreign interference and to show defiance.
“We will protest with conviction that justice will prevail,” Fernandez said, adding that the movement would remain in the streets to provide “absolute support” to the government.
Despite calls for Maduro’s return, party leaders stressed their loyalty to Rodriguez, who assumed the presidency on Jan. 5, saying stability must be preserved “in any scenario.”
Meanwhile, shifting to a different demand, other protesters called for comprehensive reparations for victims of state-sponsored violence.
Those demonstrators sought accountability for high-ranking officials linked to past abuses and guarantees that human rights violations would never be repeated.
In a separate development underscoring tensions with Washington, Maduro remains held in a US federal prison as legal proceedings continue in New York.
The US legal system charged Venezuelan leader for alleged conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess illegal weapons.
Since taking office, Rodriguez has moved to signal a break with the past by introducing a General Amnesty Law aimed at freeing hundreds of political prisoners detained since 1999.
She has also ordered the immediate closure of the notorious El Helicoide prison. The sprawling complex is set to be converted into a sports, cultural and social hub for nearby Caracas neighborhoods.