US-Mediated Venezuela Talks Begin Amid Skepticism and Uncertainty

Negotiations, this time under U.S. tutelage, are poised to commence between Venezuela's 2015-elected National Assembly and the government of interim president Delcy Rodríguez. The process, however, will unfold without the participation of leading opposition figure María Corina Machado and president-elect Edmundo González Urrutia.

Both Machado and González Urrutia have indicated they will not impede the talks, stating they will assess any progress based on concrete outcomes. Their exclusion has raised concerns, particularly given Venezuela's history of 18 previous dialogue processes that concluded without substantial agreements. The opposition leaders affirmed in a joint statement that they will only support steps leading to the recovery of democratic institutions, the release of political prisoners, guarantees for all actors, a timely presidential timetable, and respect for popular sovereignty.

“

We continue to exert the necessary political pressure, accompanying the citizen mandate and following the process. We are not demanding a place for its own sake; what we demand is that any negotiation produces real results, in a timeframe adjusted to the urgency the country requires and that respects the will expressed by Venezuelans

María Teresa Clavijo, national leader of the political organization Vente Venezuela, told El Nacional that while her group is not directly involved, they are watching the negotiations closely. "We continue to exert the necessary political pressure, accompanying the citizen mandate and following the process. We are not demanding a place for its own sake; what we demand is that any negotiation produces real results, in a timeframe adjusted to the urgency the country requires and that respects the will expressed by Venezuelans," she stated.

Clavijo clarified that the mechanism was formed without Machado or González Urrutia, but asserted that the leaders are fulfilling their "political responsibility" from their respective platforms, "defending the legitimate mandate and maintaining our demand for an immediate democratic transition." The mandate she refers to stems from the presidential election results of July 28, 2024, with vote tallies reportedly secured by the ConVzla command.

“

Defending the legitimate mandate and maintaining our demand for an immediate democratic transition