CIVICUS discusses the prospects for a democratic transition in Venezuela with Pedro González Caro, a university lecturer and member of the national coordination committee of Creemos Alianza Ciudadana (Citizen Alliance We Believe), a citizen platform that works for democracy in Venezuela.

Since the US government’s abduction of Nicolás Maduro on 3 January, Venezuela has been undergoing an uncertain shift. Maduro’s vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, has assumed the role of interim president with US backing, but the regime’s repressive structures remain intact. Although the government announced the release of political prisoners and an amnesty law, over 780 people remain in detention. For Venezuelan civil society, the challenge is to move from gestures to a genuine democratic transition.

What has changed in Venezuela and what remains the same?

Venezuela spent decades under a regime that punished dissent and rewarded submission. Maduro’s capture broke with that logic and unleashed a pent-up energy. The main change was not political, but a shift in mood: people once again believe they can influence what happens in their country.

However, although the face of power may have changed, the institutional infrastructure has not. Maduro’s capture did not mean restoration of the rule of law. Venezuela remains under a system of ‘un-justice’ where there are no real rules or arbiters.

The laws targeting civil society are still on the books, and arbitrariness remains the norm at many levels of the state. Take, for example, the amnesty law passed on 19 February. Although it was an early victory that led to the release of hundreds of political prisoners, it has been applied at the discretion of the same people who were responsible for their detention.

How can civil society capitalise on this moment?

Hope is not an abstract illusion; it’s a tool for mobilisation. We are facing a window of opportunity, but hope will fade if it does not translate into tangible changes.

The outburst of jubilation that followed Venezuela’s victory in the World Baseball Classic on 17 March demonstrated that national identity is alive and powerful. Venezuelans inside and outside the country came together beyond divisions, just as the 1995 Rugby World Cup united a South Africa divided by apartheid. The sporting triumph reminded us of what we have in common.

The challenge for civil society today is to transform that energy from the stadium into long-term civic engagement. At Creemos Alianza Ciudadana, we are working on this. We don’t want hope to mean we are waiting for a saviour: we want local leaders in every community, trade union and university who monitor institutions with the same passion they show in the stands.

What is needed for mobilisation to bring about real change?

To transform the energy of the streets into tangible changes, Venezuela needs a functioning institutional system that is transparent, with clear rules and verifiable results. This means moving from a lack of justice to an independent judicial system. There can be no real change if those responsible for the institutional collapse are not held to account.

We also need an informed and non-manipulable citizenry, capable of holding those in power to account, pressing for fair and transparent elections and reclaiming the language of ‘we’.

Above all, we need change to happen in every municipality across the country, not just in the capital, Caracas. To achieve this, every Venezuelan must assume their role as a change agent and understand that democracy is not a destination but a process. It’s not merely demanded at moments of political climax but built every day. That’s why mobilisation must cease to be reactive and become proactive, taking to the streets not only in response to a crisis, but to create solutions.

If people withdraw thinking the work is already done, we run the risk of institutional injustice being recycled. We must remind those in power that sovereignty is not blindly delegated. It’s exercised on a daily basis through organised participation.

What international support does Venezuelan civil society need?

The first thing we need is recognition. We have been fighting for democracy and freedom for 27 years, and instead of giving up, Venezuelan civil society has grown stronger in the face of adversity. We want the world to stop seeing us as a crisis and start seeing us as an example of civic resurgence.

We also need political and technical support so local leaders can carry out their oversight work without fear of reprisals.

Finally, we need investment in free information. An informed public is the only guarantee of the survival of institutions.

CIVICUS interviews a wide range of civil society activists, experts and leaders to gather diverse perspectives on civil society action and current issues for publication on its CIVICUS Lens platform. The views expressed in interviews are the interviewees’ and do not necessarily reflect those of CIVICUS. Publication does not imply endorsement of interviewees or the organisations they represent.