Negotiations that could lead to a political transition are set to begin in Venezuela next Saturday. The talks will involve two parties: the interim government headed by Delcy Rodríguez and a faction of the opposition backed by Washington, but without Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado.
In mid-July, Rodriguez’s interim government and a group of former opposition members of parliament from the 2015-2020 term announced a work plan for “strengthening democracy” in the country.
This process begins seven months after the arrest of now-deposed President Nicolás Maduro by the US military. Since then, his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has assumed power, with strong backing from US President Donald Trump, who encouraged the dialogue.
Many observers hope the process will lead to a political transition, particularly establishing a timetable for elections.
Political tensions began to escalate this week with demonstrations in several Caracas neighborhoods. The opposition demanded elections, while supporters of Chavismo, the movement inspired by the late President Hugo Chávez, whom Maduro succeeded, expressed their rejection of US intervention.
Former congressman and political prisoner Williams Davila said after participating in a pro-Machado rally on Tuesday, “The people hope that, at the end of this process, we will reach free and democratic elections.” (AFP)
