Venezuelans Begin New Dialogue for Democratic Strengthening

With understandable caution following previous failed negotiations, Venezuelans on Saturday welcome the start of a new series of talks. The discussions aim to create a joint agenda between the government and the opposition to bolster democracy and restore fundamental rights after nearly three decades of socialist rule.

The negotiations are led by members of Venezuela’s current National Assembly, which is dominated by the ruling party, and a group of former opposition legislators. In the past, these legislators sought to remove then-President Nicolás Maduro. The talks have mediation from the United States.

I hope, finally, the government understands that with the usual arbitrary actions, we won’t progress. They must respect agreements, said Soraida Martínez, a 58-year-old housewife. Both sides must give way for the country’s sake, she added.

The first meeting is set nearly seven weeks after a reunion in Caracas between the President of the Legislature, Jorge Rodríguez, and former deputy Dinorah Figuera. Figuera returned briefly to Venezuela after nearly eight years in exile. Washington is the main proponent of this initiative.

Figuera indicated that the primary goal is to develop an institutional agenda that rises above the varied political interests, echoing the stance of the Trump administration.

After US forces captured Maduro and his spouse in January, the Trump administration proposed a three-phase plan for Venezuela. This plan includes stabilization, recovery, and democratic transition. It stresses priorities like rebuilding Venezuela’s democratic institutions, strengthening the National Electoral Council (CNE), ensuring durable political participation guarantees, and safeguarding civic freedoms essential for open political debate, the State Department emphasized in a statement issued following the Rodríguez and Figuera meeting.

Negotiators also plan to unite the nation to tackle the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes on June 24. These earthquakes resulted in over 5,500 deaths, 16,700 injuries, and more than 20,000 people left homeless, according to the latest official report.

In 2023, Figuera was chosen to represent former opposition legislators of the 2015 National Assembly, widely regarded as Venezuela’s last democratically elected institution.

Despite the failure of four prior dialogue processes between 2017 and 2024, the majority remain hopeful for a positive outcome this time, given Venezuela’s unprecedented political situation and US influence over the Rodríguez government. Many believe reaching minimum agreements to improve the country’s condition is possible.

Analysts agree that a transition to democracy is still distant, cautioning that a free election is the culmination of a long process. Setting an electoral calendar and conditions does not appear imminent.

The transition to democracy does not start with the initiation of a dialogue process. It begins with recognizing and restoring violated guarantees, said John Magdaleno, a political consultant and professor at the Andrés Bello Catholic University.

Magdaleno noted that first, civil liberties and political rights must be restored, such as freedom of opinion and expression, press freedom, the right to assemble and associate, the privacy of communications, and other guarantees that secure and uphold human rights.