Venezuelans Express New Optimism but Demand Swift Elections After Maduro's Capture, Poll Shows

Polling conducted after the capture of Nicolás Maduro suggests a sharp rise in optimism among Venezuelans inside the country along with strong demands for a rapid democratic transition and new elections.

According to a survey carried out by Premise for The Economist between January 9th and 13th, nearly four in five Venezuelans believe the country's political situation will improve over the next year. A similar share expect their personal economic circumstances to be better.

More than half of respondents said their opinion of the United States improved following the operation that led to Maduro's arrest, and only 13% expressed even mild opposition to his capture.

The survey, conducted via mobile app among 600 Venezuelan residents and weighted for age and sex, offers one of the first snapshots of public sentiment after the dramatic events of early January. The results point to a population relieved by the end of Maduro's rule and hopeful about the near future after years of economic contraction and political repression.

That optimism, however, is paired with clear expectations about how the country should be governed. While almost half of respondents said they support some form of temporary U.S. governance and just 18% oppose it, views diverge sharply when questions turn to leadership and legitimacy. Two-thirds of Venezuelans say the country should hold a new presidential election, and 91% of those believe it should take place within a year. Most favor elections within six months.

More than a third of respondents say Edmundo González, who won the opposition-backed vote in 2024 before Maduro declared himself the victor, should assume the presidency immediately. By contrast, only 10% agree that Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's vice president, should complete the current term, which runs to 2031. She also records low favorability ratings and trails opposition leader María Corina Machado by a wide margin when respondents are asked who is most capable of ensuring political stability.

The survey also shows strong approval for the president and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom enjoy higher favorability ratings in Venezuela than leading opposition figures. That popularity, the findings suggest, coexists with firm public expectations that any transition should lead quickly to elections rather than prolonged external control.

Venezuelans, however, express limited trust in the country's electoral authority and the armed forces to oversee a fair vote, pointing to the need for institutional reform.