In Spain, Venezuelan exiles, including key opposition figures and citizens, have long awaited a change in leadership in their home country, hoping for an end to Nicolás Maduro’s presidency. Xiomara Sierra, a vocal critic of Maduro, fled Venezuela in 2024 after facing threats while working for an opposition party during the elections. She expresses concerns about the current interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, whom she views as a tool of repression.
With around 400,000 Venezuelans now residing in Spain, many have sought refuge from the oppressive regime in Venezuela. Despite their initial expectations for a democratic transition led by María Corina Machado, the reality has left them uncertain and praying for a positive change in their homeland.
While some political prisoners have been released in Venezuela following recent events, the opposition insists that all detainees must be set free and torture centers shut down for genuine progress to occur. The exiled opposition members in Spain, like Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and Antonio Ledezma, continue to advocate for democratic reforms from abroad.
Venezuelan asylum seekers in Spain face uncertainty as they await processing of their applications. The fear of potential rejection and forced return to a volatile situation in Venezuela looms large for many. Despite Spain’s commitment to assisting Venezuelans in determining their future, the shifting political landscape raises concerns among the diaspora.
For individuals like Sarahy Chirinos, who established a bakery in Madrid after arriving with nothing, the decision to return to Venezuela remains complex. The emotional toll of separation from their homeland, especially on younger family members who have never experienced Venezuela, weighs heavily on many exiles.
As Venezuelans in Spain contemplate the evolving situation in their home country, they remain cautious yet hopeful about the prospect of a successful democratic transition. Families like the Zuletas, who have endured persecution and surveillance, are cautiously optimistic about the possibility of contributing to Venezuela’s recovery once conditions are conducive.
In the midst of these uncertainties, exiled Venezuelans in Spain hold on to the belief that one day they may reunite with their loved ones in a free and thriving Venezuela.
