Venezuelan opposition welcomes U.S.-backed transition talks

Venezuelan opposition politician Antonio Ecarri has expressed support for ongoing negotiations aimed at facilitating a political transition in the country. The discussions involve Venezuela's current, Chavista-controlled parliament and the opposition-led 2015 parliament, which the opposition seeks to uphold.

Ecarri's comments follow the U.S. State Department's invitation to Dinorah Figuera, a key figure from the 2015 opposition parliament, to engage in dialogue regarding Venezuela's transition. "We welcome that common sense prevails and that we have mechanisms for negotiation, conversation, and building consensus," Ecarri stated in a video message.

A central objective of these dialogues, according to Ecarri, is the establishment of a pluralistic National Electoral Council (CNE). He emphasized that the CNE, currently led by members aligned with the ruling Chavista party, should become an institution that "strengthens the confidence of Venezuelans." Ecarri stressed the need for a CNE with guarantees for all participants to ensure fair elections.

Figuera, who claims to be the president of the 2015 National Assembly, recently returned to Venezuela after eight years in exile. She stated her intention to develop a "strategic plan for democracy" in collaboration with the president of the Venezuelan Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez, and with U.S. "accompaniment." One of Figuera's stated goals is to form a "vigorous, credible, and transparent" CNE.

These developments come after Venezuela's largest opposition bloc proposed "serious, firm, and responsible" negotiations, led by María Corina Machado, with the interim government and U.S. support. The aim is to "restore democracy" through free and transparent presidential elections. The Chavista government previously indicated it was not considering negotiations with the main opposition bloc, particularly with Machado.

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El objetivo es conformar un CNE "vigoroso, creíble y transparente".