Venezuela's Acting Leader Promises Elections at 'Right Moment' in UN Address

Venezuela's acting leader, Delcy Rodriguez, told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that elections will be held in the nation, but that the timing will be determined by the Venezuelan people. This was her first address to the UN since assuming leadership following the U.S. military raid that captured former leader Nicolás Maduro.

Rodriguez stated that her government has initiated a "political dialogue with opposition sectors" to ensure an electoral process based on equal conditions for all participants. She assured world leaders that Venezuela's institutions will be prepared to guarantee an inclusive and transparent process when the appropriate time arrives.

Her participation in the international forum marks a significant step in Venezuela's reintegration into global diplomacy. Rodriguez noted that the last meeting between Venezuelan and U.S. presidents occurred in 2009. She thanked President Donald Trump for his willingness to resume relations after Maduro was brought to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.

"We are working earnestly to resolve existing differences through dialogue, but above all to pave the way for cooperation in the energy sector, the promotion of security, the joint fight against transnational crime, and economic cooperation for the benefit of both peoples and our continent," Rodriguez said, adding, "Today, Venezuela is being reborn."

Rodriguez met with Trump in New York on Tuesday, her first in-person encounter with the U.S. president since Maduro's capture. They discussed strengthening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation in strategic areas, including energy, mining, and security. This meeting followed an agreement last month to give the U.S. a stake in Venezuela's oil reserves, a move Rodriguez described as a step toward economic recovery and modernization of the oil industry.

Rodriguez acknowledged that the nation's recovery will require time and effort. "Rebuilding the national soul will be our priority," she said. "We will walk united as a single nation that, after the pain, chose hope."

She also referenced setbacks Venezuela has faced this year, including "a crisis of political coexistence that disrupted the life of the nation and our interaction with the world," and powerful earthquakes that struck in June, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. Rodriguez vowed to lead Venezuela "from a period of uncertainty and conflict toward a stage of full democracy, recognized by its own people and by the world," asserting that "Venezuela wants to breathe freely and exercise its rights as a sovereign nation without any kind of interference."