Venezuela’s Direct Political Dialogue Set to Begin in Caracas Next Week

Direct political dialogue between Venezuela’s interim authorities and a segment of the opposition is set to commence in Caracas next week, according to joint announcements made Saturday by the heads of both delegations. The talks were originally slated to begin on 1 August but have been confirmed for the coming week.

Background of the Transition

This negotiation process follows a seven-month period beginning with the U.S. military’s arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his subsequent transfer to the United States to await trial. Since that event, former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has assumed leadership of the interim administration, operating under strong influence from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly endorsed the dialogue initiative.

Scope and Agenda of the First Meeting

Jorge Rodríguez, head of the government delegation and also President of the National Assembly as well as brother of the acting president, stated in an official statement: “I held a telephone conversation today with Dinora Figuera, representative of a sector of the Venezuelan opposition, to initiate a comprehensive and effective political dialogue. We agreed to hold the first in-person meeting in Caracas next week.”

The statement further outlined a defined agenda with concrete and measurable objectives. During that inaugural face-to-face session, participants will discuss three priority topics: first, support for victims of the twin earthquakes—which killed more than 5,500 people and caused extensive material damage; second, strengthening democracy; and third, political rights and guarantees.

Composition of the Negotiating Teams

Jorge Rodríguez confirmed that the government’s negotiating team includes former Vice President and former Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, who previously chaired the parliamentary committee overseeing implementation of the Amnesty Law—legislation that led to the release of hundreds of political prisoners.

Dinora Figuera, in her own statement, affirmed the same agenda and disclosed the members of her delegation. Her team does not include any prominent opposition figures. Figuera is a relatively low-profile opposition figure who spent years in exile. She leads the opposition bloc that won a majority in the National Assembly in 2015—a result later annulled by Maduro. The U.S. government recognizes her bloc as the legitimate representative body.

Exclusion and Position of Key Opposition Leader

Maria Corina Machado, leader of the opposition and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was not invited to participate in the dialogue. President Trump has repeatedly expressed satisfaction with Delcy Rodríguez’s performance.

Last weekend, Machado distanced herself from the process while speaking from Panama, where she currently resides. She declared she would not take part in the talks but emphasized she would not oppose the dialogue path.