Aug 6 - U.S.-backed talks between Venezuela’s interim government and a faction of the opposition officially started on Thursday afternoon in Caracas following almost a week of delays. The negotiations are designed to address changes to the country’s political system ahead of eventual elections.
Leading the government delegation is Jorge Rodriguez, the brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who also serves as head of the National Assembly, posted photographs on his X account showing negotiators gathered at the Caracas venue. He has a record of participating in previous negotiations involving the United States and opposition groups.
On the opposition side, Dinorah Figuera is heading the delegation. Figuera is the leader of an opposition-dominated cohort of the National Assembly elected in 2015, which is still recognized by the United States as the country's last democratically elected legislature. In a post on X, Figuera wrote, "Today we launched the process that will chart the path toward democracy and the re-institutionalization of Venezuela."
The U.S. State Department publicly praised the commencement of the talks, characterizing the start of negotiations as a positive step.
Notably absent from the discussions is Maria Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and widely regarded as the country's most popular opposition figure. Machado is not participating in the negotiations, a development that has disappointed some observers. Machado has stated she will not block progress at the talks.
Participants and observers have emphasized the institutional focus of the discussions - namely, remaking political structures in preparation for future electoral processes - though details of the agenda and timeline beyond the opening day were not specified.
The initial gathering follows a period of delay, and both delegations have signaled the importance of the process. Photographs and statements shared on social media platforms by the lead negotiators served as the primary public confirmations of the meetings.
How the talks will proceed, what specific agreements may emerge, and the full roster of negotiating participants were not detailed beyond the leading roles of Jorge Rodriguez and Dinorah Figuera. For now, the start of talks has drawn notable attention from both domestic observers and international actors, including the State Department.
Quick facts
- Negotiations began Thursday afternoon in Caracas after nearly a week of delays.
- Jorge Rodriguez leads the government delegation and posted images of the meeting on X.
- Dinorah Figuera heads the opposition delegation and affirmed the launch of the process on X.
- The State Department welcomed the commencement of negotiations.
- Maria Corina Machado is not participating but has said she will not impede progress.