Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela’s Minister of the Interior and Justice, has dismissed demands from the political opposition to hold new elections following the removal of former president Nicolás Maduro. The move underscores the deepening political deadlock in Caracas as the country navigates a leadership vacuum.
During a recent press conference for the governing party, Cabello mocked the opposition’s insistence on calling for new polls based on the “absolute absence” of Maduro. Cabello pointed out a contradiction in the opposition’s logic, noting that they had previously argued Maduro never won the 2024 election. “How is it that you now request the absolute absence of someone who did not win?” he asked.
The political crisis follows a U.S.-led operation that resulted in the fall of the former leader. Maduro is currently being processed in New York on drug trafficking charges. In the wake of his removal, Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of acting president on January 5, 2026, just two days after the operation. The opposition is now urging Rodríguez to schedule elections, citing a 90-day constitutional deadline that has since passed.
While Cabello has surprised observers by rejecting the opposition’s demands, his own relationship with the United States has undergone a stark transformation. Once a vocal critic of the U.S. Government, Cabello recently hosted U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum in Caracas.
Critics suggest this shift is a survival tactic. José Amalio Graterol, political secretary of Vente Venezuela in the U.S., stated that Cabello is “protecting his own skin,” noting that the U.S. Government has accused Cabello of being a narco-terrorist and is offering a $25 million reward for his capture. This internal tension is further complicated by reports of a rift within the Chavismo movement, with allegations that the Rodríguez siblings betrayed Maduro to ensure their own safety.
Despite the government’s resistance, opposition forces are preparing for a potential electoral path. In Lara, Vente Venezuela has declared itself ready for an “electoral struggle” this year. Simultaneously, some within the Chavismo movement maintain they will be prepared to win any future elections, regardless of when they are held.
The tension is expected to escalate further as labor unions have organized a march toward the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela on Thursday, April 16, 2026, to reinforce the call for new elections.
