Venezuela’s First Big Talk After Years

The United States praised a historic meeting in Caracas that brought together Jorge Rodríguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, and Dinorah Figuera, a former opposition lawmaker. They discussed ways to steer the country toward a democratic future and how to make its elections fairer, with particular emphasis on strengthening the National Electoral Council.

A Landmark Conversation

• First open exchange between ruling party and opposition leaders in almost three years.
• Prior to this, the two sides had only signed a plan to hold elections in 2024.
• This meeting marks the beginning of real dialogue.

Key Participants

Both leaders kept details of their discussion private, focusing instead on building a platform for democracy and peace. The National Assembly highlighted the intent to foster democratic institutions without divulging specifics.

U.S. Perspective

• The United States views the meeting as a step toward restoring democratic institutions in Venezuela.
• It hopes the talks will enable broader political participation and free speech.
• The U.S. State Department emphasized:
• Rebuilding institutions
• Protecting political participation
• Securing basic civic freedoms for open debate

The conversation is seen as a hopeful sign that Venezuela might begin repairing the damage caused by years of political tension.