In Venezuela, members of the interim government and representatives of opposition parties met, according to a US State Department statement, to discuss "a roadmap for dialogue for a democratic transition."
Meeting Details
The meeting between National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez and former opposition lawmaker Dinorah Figuera, who returned to Caracas after eight years in exile, was described by US State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott as "a first step in a thoughtful process to ensure a free and open Venezuelan society."
At the airport, Figuera told journalists, "Right now, I am taking on all these challenges by responding to the State Department's invitation... regarding having a credible National Electoral Council."
Figuera's Background and Position
Dinorah Figuera, 65, a doctor by profession, was elected President of the National Assembly in 2015. In 2018, she went into exile, stating she had received threats and harassment for serving as spokesperson for fellow party member Fernando Alban.
The National Assembly confirmed Figuera's meeting with Jorge Rodriguez within the framework of her "capacity to represent opposition lawmakers from the 2015-2020 period." Jorge Rodriguez is the brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
Upon her return, Figuera sought to distance herself from opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, who launched her own Venezuelan democratic transition initiative.
US Role and Statements
The US Embassy in Caracas announced that Figuera met with a State Department official in April to discuss "paths to a stable, orderly, and consolidated democratic transition."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists earlier this month, "We clearly need a new electoral committee, and ultimately, Venezuela's future is free and fair multi-party elections."
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured during a US military operation in January and arrested on drug trafficking charges. Since then, the country has been governed by an interim administration led by his deputy, Delcy Rodriguez.
