The interim Government of Venezuela and the opposition have launched in Caracas the fourth phase of negotiations promoted by the United States, a new round of talks that will take place over approximately one week and is being held again without the presence of the opposition leader María Corina Machado, with the focus on reforms to the electoral system.
The president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, has confirmed the start of the "fourth round of dialogue" with the Venezuelan opposition —identified as the 2015 National Assembly—, underscoring that this consolidates the "democratic dialogue" aimed at promoting legal and institutional changes that will open the door to the calling of presidential elections.
The meetings are held behind closed doors in a hotel in the capital, without access for the press or public statements, and are expected to last for a week, with the option of extending longer, according to what the Venezuelan newspaper 'El Nacional' has reported.
Although the interim Government has not yet released the agenda for this fourth round, throughout the entire process it has reiterated two main demands: the lifting of international sanctions and the restitution of the gold held in the Bank of England. Both issues were included in previous agreements, but remain pending execution.
The president of the 2015 National Assembly, Dinorah Figuera, has highlighted on her social networks her willingness to "face it" and to work for a "full democracy," insisting on the relevance of the "consolidation of the Supreme Court of Justice" as an essential piece for establishing the legal framework for future presidential elections.
Along these lines, Figuera has advanced that she intends to incorporate into the negotiation table the debate on the "National Electoral Council," with a view toward a deep restructuring of the body and a review of the conditions for electoral competition, with the aim of ensuring transparent next presidential elections.
At the same time, other representatives of the 2015 National Assembly have reiterated their demands regarding public freedoms, defending that "no one has the right to persecute someone for raising their voice and for thinking differently" and expressing their intention to "expand political guarantees" in this new phase of dialogue, as well as to move toward a scenario in which "there are no political prisoners."
According to the roadmap put forward by the Government of the United States, once the new heads of the National Electoral Council (CNE) are appointed, it is expected that Rodríguez will declare the absolute lack of the presidency. This move would activate the constitutional six-month term for the calling of new presidential elections, as reported by 'El Nacional'.
This fourth round of talks is marked as the first one held since María Corina Machado returned to the country. However, her party does not include any of the delegations accredited at the negotiating table and, for now, her direct participation in these discussions is not contemplated.