Venezuelan opposition says all sectors to be invited to dialogue with Chavismo

Venezuelan opposition figure Dinorah Figuera announced that all democratic sectors will be invited to dialogue with the ruling Chavista party, with talks scheduled to begin on August 1. Figuera, who leads an opposition group that will engage in these conversations, stated on X that the invitation aims to "enrich this roadmap oriented towards reinstitutionalization" and "a peaceful and democratic electoral transition."

The dialogue, which has the backing of the United States, is intended to strengthen democracy and address the severe consequences of the earthquakes that struck on June 24. These natural disasters resulted in at least 5,208 deaths, over 16,700 injuries, and extensive material damage.

Conversations between Figuera and Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez commenced on June 18, prior to the earthquakes. Figuera, asserting her claim as the "president" of the National Assembly elected in 2015, returned to Venezuela that month to develop a "strategic plan for democracy" in conjunction with Rodríguez and with the "accompaniment" of the United States.

Last Wednesday, prominent opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia met with the largest opposition coalition, the Unitary Platform of Venezuela, to discuss the dialogue path agreed upon by the Parliament and Figuera's group. However, they have not yet shared the outcomes of this meeting. Machado has consistently emphasized her "responsibility to lead" negotiations with the government of Delcy Rodríguez.