With caution—something that has characterized everything related to Venezuela for years—the Venezuelan diaspora in Colombia took hours to take to the streets to celebrate the fall of now former president Nicolas Maduro. It was not until the press conference by U.S. President Donald Trump that the first group of Venezuelans, belonging to the significant community residing in Colombia, went out onto the country’s main streets to show their joy.
In an improvised manner, without a specific call, the first food delivery motorcyclists began honking their horns and revving their motorcycle engines in streets and squares, and shortly afterward blaring horns and loud music, alternating with the Venezuelan national anthem, which has played repeatedly today in Bogota and other cities.
After years of suffering, caution was evident even in statements to the media because, although many wanted to speak, few wanted to do so on camera. Gradually, as the afternoon wore on and the crowd grew, this outlet managed to speak with some of them who, with overflowing emotion and even a tear or two, spoke about the hope they have for Venezuela’s future without Nicolás Maduro.
Venezuelans take to Colombian streets to celebrate Maduro’s arrest
Around 2 p.m. Colombian time, the presence of Venezuelan citizens was noticeable at some key points in Bogotá. Many arrived on their work motorcycles, as they are food delivery drivers, but shortly afterward many more gathered on various streets.
In the central Chapinero neighborhood of the Colombian capital, police blocked vehicle traffic around 4 p.m. on Calle 63 in order to organize the gathering and ensure that everything proceeded without major incidents. In a growing festive atmosphere, horns and sports trumpets gave way to Venezuelan music and even the national anthem, which played repeatedly at full volume through large loudspeakers transported in vehicles to Lourdes Square.
It was clear that the spontaneous outburst of joy had been waiting for a long time—years, surely—for this moment, after many failed attempts to bring about the end of the Maduro government. Colombia One went out to speak with some of them. The desire to speak was present in almost everyone, although it was not easy to find someone willing to do so on camera. So many years of persecution and fear do not end on a Saturday morning.
Overflowing joy, tears, and hope in a necessarily better but uncertain future
Finally, we managed to speak with Jesús, a young Venezuelan who, with his country’s flag draped over his back and his dog, came to the square and agreed to give his testimony, full of emotion. “Today is a historic day that I have waited for my entire life (…) Here there are people of all kinds, from all social strata,” the young man explains.
“I found out at 2 in the morning. I haven’t been able to sleep at all between the excitement and the uncertainty, but this is a moment I will never forget,” he says, while acknowledging that “it is a great joy to see Maduro imprisoned and facing justice in the U.S., but there is still a long way to go for Venezuela’s freedom,” he assures, referring to the will of many Venezuelans abroad who—like him—state that “we want María Corina Machado and Edmundo” in the future transitional government.
“We elected them on July 28 [2024], myself included, because I voted for them,” says Jesús, who notes the statements by President Trump, which seem not to take Machado and the Venezuelan opposition too much into account in the U.S.-controlled transitional government announced today at the press conference.
“I think there has been a bit of confusion about that. I think he was referring to the fact that he was not in contact with María Corina, but he was referring to Delcy Rodríguez, because there is a pause in the press conference,” he says, with the hope that—as was vehemently defended at the gathering—the participation of what they consider the legitimate government—embodied by Edmundo González as president and Machado as vice president—will be real and effective.
Jesús finally acknowledges that he “expected such a bold operation” as the one carried out by the U.S., which in three hours managed to decapitate a system of government of nearly three decades. “It was clear that they acted with a great deal of planning and that there was no improvisation,” he says, although he also notes that “we expected more key figures from the Maduro government to be captured.”
Related: Venezuela’s Supreme Court Appoints Delcy Rodriguez as Interim President.
‘Anything that comes will be better than Maduro’
Cautious about speaking of his relatives in Venezuela—once again the years of repression naturally resurface—he finally says that he has spoken with family members in the neighboring country and that, like him, they have experienced surprise and joy at what happened with Trump’s arrest. “Venezuelans know very well what the regime is like and what they are up against, and there is indeed a great deal of caution; however, the joy must be noticeable and uncontrollable,” he concludes.
In Venezuela, people “are stocking up on food and sheltering in place” while awaiting developments, especially regarding what will happen with the rest of the leaders of the former government and with the supposed new transitional government, controlled by the U.S., which President Trump announced today from Florida.
“One lesson we have—the Venezuelans in exile—is to observe and see before reacting. I think this is a moment of celebration that we needed, but we understand that this is not over, because it will only end with Venezuela’s freedom and a legitimate government and a complete transition,” he notes.
Nevertheless, regarding the possibility that the future transitional government may not include Venezuelan opposition leaders, Jesús categorically clarifies that “anything is better than chavismo, even an occupation,” an option that “a vast majority of Venezuelans view favorably” if it means the end of the government of the last 27 years.