The second round of talks between the Venezuelan government and the delegation of former deputies of the National Assembly elected in 2015 ended on Friday (25) September, in Caracas. Negotiations took place over seven work sessions, divided into two plenary sessions and five technical tables.
The government delegation was led by Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, while the opposition group was led by former deputy Dinorah Figuera. The initiative is part of the framework of the National Program for Democratic Coexistence, launched by the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, after the bombing of the United States on January 3 of this year, and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, national deputy Cília Flores.
Among the main results of the meeting is the creation of the Credentials and Requirements Review Council for candidates to the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), an extension of what was agreed in the first round of dialogues, when it was decided to renew all magistrates of the country’s highest court.
The council will be made up of seven jurists nominated by both parties and aims to monitor the renewal process of the Supreme Court. The agreement also provides for the publication of a public schedule and the progress of the commission in charge of judicial applications.
Upon leaving the meeting, deputy Jorge Rodríguez was asked about negotiating a possible electoral calendar, after the acting president said in her speech at the United Nations (UN) that there will be elections in the country. The president of the National Assembly stated that the convocation must comply with the deadlines stipulated by the Constitution.
“Of course there will be elections. There will be four elections. What we have ahead of us are parliamentary elections, mayoral elections, governor elections and presidential elections within the deadlines established by the Constitution”, said the parliamentarian.
The last presidential elections were held in 2024. Governors, mayors and deputies had their positions renewed in a single election held in 2025. According to the country’s Constitution, the mandate of the President of the Republic is six years, while for national deputies it is five years. Mayors and governors have four-year terms each. Therefore, if there is no constitutional change, the next regional elections would be in 2029, and the national ones, that is, president and deputies, in 2030.
Other results
In the area of communication, the parties agreed to lift administrative measures imposed on news pages and digital media. The government confirmed the release of access to several information portals that were blocked for having participated in coup actions and plans against the State.
As a result of the conversations, the government carried out 39 new excarcerations over the weekend. Among those released are six investigated in the case known as Operation Gedeão, when authorities managed to intercept and arrest a group of paramilitaries that tried to invade the country from the north coast.
“Something that was said today in the discussions at the table was the repudiation that we all have towards any form of violent expression in the context of trying to obtain political dividends with isolated violent actions. I think we are doing very well in the work that has been carried out at this dialogue table. I believe that we have reached very important agreements, which are concrete and tangible agreements”, said Jorge Rodríguez.
The government and opposition delegations ratified the commitment to maintain the permanent dialogue channel. A third cycle of meetings is scheduled for mid-October 2026, when the parties must continue discussions for institutional stability and democratic coexistence in Venezuela.
In the first round of negotiations, held in August, the opposition and government agreed on the renewal of the Justice system, the appointment of new TSJ magistrates, as well as the renewal of the National Electoral Council, and joint work to enable the unlocking of Venezuelan assets in England.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
