US-backed negotiations between Venezuela’s interim government and an opposition faction are set to begin on Saturday, with prominent opposition leader Maria Corina Machado not taking part in the talks. The negotiations are aimed at reshaping Venezuela’s political system and creating conditions for eventual elections.
Venezuela Talks to Focus on Political Reform
The talks come as Washington seeks to exert greater influence over Venezuela’s political transition. According to the supplied Reuters report, the negotiations will focus on changes to key institutions, including the country’s electoral council and top court, with the goal of creating conditions for free and fair elections.
The government delegation will be led by Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly and the brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez. He has previously played a role in negotiations involving the Venezuelan government, the United States and opposition groups.
The opposition delegation will be headed by Dinorah Figuera. Three people familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that the United States supported Figuera’s leadership because she heads an opposition-dominated National Assembly group elected in 2015, which Washington continues to recognise as Venezuela’s last democratically elected legislature.
Maria Corina Machado to Stay Out of Talks
Machado, one of Venezuela’s most prominent opposition figures, will not participate in the negotiations. Her absence has raised questions about how broadly the opposition will be represented in the process.
Machado left Venezuela late last year to receive her Nobel Peace Prize after spending much of the period since the disputed 2024 presidential election in hiding. She has since said she wants to return to Venezuela and contribute to the response to the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the country in June.
According to Reuters, some sources familiar with the negotiations said Machado was not initially aware that talks were being planned, while another source said she had been informed but was not invited to join the opposition delegation because she is not a member of the 2015 assembly group.
Machado has said she will not participate but also indicated that she would not obstruct what she considers “real progress” in the negotiations. She said the process should ultimately be judged by whether democratic institutions are restored, political prisoners are released and elections are scheduled, among other conditions.
Machado’s Absence Raises Questions Over Opposition Representation
Machado’s exclusion has prompted concern among some Venezuela observers because of her popularity and influence within the opposition movement.
One person familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that Machado could benefit if the talks succeed in producing free elections, while a failure could reinforce her argument that negotiations require representatives with legitimacy and public support.
Ricardo Rios, head of political risk consultancy Poder y Estrategia, said Machado’s absence effectively leaves an important section of Venezuelan society outside the talks. However, he also noted that Venezuela’s opposition has long been divided and that her absence may not necessarily create another major split.
US Says Machado Could Still Have a Role
The United States has positioned itself as a facilitator of the negotiations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has previously supported Machado, said this month that she could have a role in the process if Venezuelans wanted her involved.
“In order for Venezuela to have the reconciliation that that country requires to move forward on all these other projects, every element of Venezuelan society needs to be represented. And obviously, Maria Corina represents an important element of that.”
Rubio also said the United States was involved to facilitate the negotiations rather than dictate their outcome.
Venezuelan Government Seeks Sanctions Relief
The interim government is expected to push for the removal of remaining US sanctions during the negotiations. Washington has previously eased some restrictions on Venezuela’s oil, gas and gold sectors in connection with agreements involving the government and opposition over electoral conditions.
The United States has argued that Venezuela needs to stabilise politically and recover economically before elections can take place. President Donald Trump has eased some sanctions and repeatedly praised interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s leadership, according to the Reuters report.
Why the 2024 Election Still Matters
The upcoming talks follow years of political conflict between Venezuela’s government and opposition groups. Previous negotiations produced an agreement aimed at ensuring a competitive 2024 presidential election and allowing broad opposition participation.
Machado was ultimately barred from competing in that election. The United States and international election observers said her political movement won roughly two-thirds of the votes cast, while Venezuela’s electoral and judicial authorities backed Nicolas Maduro as the winner.
That disputed election remains a central part of the political background to the new negotiations and the debate over how Venezuela should transition toward future elections.
US Security Role in Venezuela Negotiations
US involvement also provides a measure of security for opposition figures participating in the process, according to an opposition source cited by Reuters. Opposition members and leaders have repeatedly faced detention and prosecution on charges they have described as politically motivated.
One opposition source close to Figuera’s group described the United States as a “central player” in the talks and said Washington would not remain on the sidelines.
What Happens Next in Venezuela?
The immediate challenge for negotiators will be to produce enough progress to build confidence among Venezuelans while addressing concerns about the limited representation of Machado’s faction.
The outcome of the talks will depend on whether the government and opposition can reach meaningful agreements on democratic institutions, political prisoners, sanctions and the eventual scheduling of elections.
For now, the negotiations will proceed without Machado, even as she remains an influential figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement. Her decision to stay outside the process means the talks will face an early test over representation and political legitimacy.
Source: Reuters
