Venezuela: USA supports dialogue between opposition and government

O u.S. Secretary of State said today that the dialogue between the Venezuelan opposition led by Dinorah Figuera and the Government of Caracas, in order to move towards a democratic transition in Venezuela, has “all the support” of Washington.

“ This effort has our support, the support of the highest levels of the US Government, and I think it is important to focus on that. We wish you all the luck in the world”, said Marco Rubio before the press at the beginning of a meeting with Figuera in the State Department.

Rubio received for the first time in Washington Dinorah Figuera, who has been leading an opposition bloc since August, which maintains a dialogue with the political formation of interim President Delcy Rodríguez, driven by the United States (USA), and in which opposition leader María Corina Machado does not participate directly.

The head of U.S. diplomacy has ensured that the process must count on the participation of all sectors of society and “must result in free and democratic elections”, although he stressed that it is not just about holding elections, but also “establishing the institutions necessary to maintain this democracy”.

Rubio classified the dialogue as a “difficult process”, whose next round is scheduled for October 14, but he was confident that “he will continue to have positive results”.

“ We will do everything in our power to achieve what we all want: not just free and democratic elections as soon as possible, because that is certainly necessary, but a democracy, a republic capable of governing the country and lasting permanently”, he concluded.

According to a statement from the U.S. State Department released after the meeting, Rubio also highlighted “the steps taken this year towards the creation of an independent Supreme Court” and the “liberation of more than 1,200 political prisoners” in Venezuela.

He also noted the restoration of access to “media sites that were blocked and efforts to reform the Law against Hate as important milestones for the restoration of the fundamental freedoms of the Venezuelan people”, according to the official note.

For his part, Figuera said that the dialogue he leads seeks to ensure “the way and the roadmap for elections”.

The former deputy thanked the United States for opening a “way of hope for Venezuela” on January 3, when U.S. forces captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.

Figuera considered that the effort he leads “is a viable process” and stressed that he has “the support of the United States.”.

Also the Venezuelan political parties Primero Justicia (PJ) and Voluntad Popular (VP) welcomed today the meeting between Rubio and Figuera and valued the support of the American representative for the recovery of the country.

“ We thank Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his support for democracy and the recovery of our country,” Voluntad Popular said in a message published on social network X.

In addition, he stated that the objective of the dialogue is to achieve free and democratic elections, with real guarantees that the popular will will be manifested and respected.

The VP stressed that next October 14th, when the third cycle of dialogue with chavism (political movement associated with former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez) begins, represents a new opportunity to move forward.

On the other hand, Primero Justicia said that negotiation should also lead to the reconstruction of the country's institutions, including the Bolivarian National Armed Force and the judicial system.

“ We invite all sectors of opposition and civil society to follow this effort, with the aim of achieving the release of all political prisoners, the recovery of institutions and a transition that guarantees freedom, justice and democracy for Venezuela,” the party added.

After the capture of Maduro and his wife Cili Flores, the United States restored diplomatic relations with Venezuela and strengthened ties with the Government of Delcy Rodríguez, with which they reached an oil agreement to control part of the country's reserves.

This approach has been criticized by those who believe that Washington is only interested in oil and not in the democratization of the country.