Venezuela's opposition is set to begin formal talks with the government, focused on bolstering democratic institutions and the electoral system. The opposition delegation will be led by Dinorah Figuera, who recently returned to Venezuela after nearly eight years in exile.
Figuera stated upon her arrival in Caracas that she was invited by the U.S. State Department with the goal of advancing the renewal of the National Electoral Council (CNE). The CNE has been a point of contention, with years of dominance by loyalists to the Maduro government, and was responsible for declaring Nicolás Maduro the winner of the 2024 presidential election despite independent tallies indicating an opposition victory.
The opposition group, comprised of former lawmakers elected in 2015 – the last time opposition parties held a majority – emphasized that the talks would prioritize strengthening democratic institutions, the electoral system, and ensuring guarantees for political participation. Opposition politicians and critics of the Maduro government have historically faced persecution, including jailing and forced exile. According to the prisoners' rights group Foro Penal, 372 political prisoners remain incarcerated despite recent releases.
María Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader, has not yet commented on the talks but has called for a meeting of her coalition to discuss the development. Machado, who was unable to enter Venezuela after traveling abroad, has been a central figure in the opposition movement. The U.S. State Department has indicated a preference for Figuera as the negotiator for a democratic transition in Venezuela, a stance that appears to differ from the prior administration's approach to Machado.