Venezuela government and opposition schedule talks on election roadmap

Opposition talks in Venezuela are set to be spearheaded by former lawmaker Dinorah Figuera after the government announced that prominent opposition leader María Corina Machado will not take part in the negotiations. The decision was disclosed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, citing procedural reasons for Machado’s exclusion while confirming that the dialogue will involve a broader coalition of civil society representatives and political parties.

Figuera, who served in the National Assembly from 2016 to 2020, will lead a delegation that includes members of the Democratic Unity Roundtable and several NGOs. The talks aim to address electoral reforms, the release of political prisoners and the restoration of democratic institutions, issues that have been central to international criticism of President Nicolás Maduro’s administration. Observers note that Machado’s absence, despite her status as a presidential candidate and a symbol of the opposition, could limit the credibility of the process, though officials say the dialogue remains open to future participation by all parties. The negotiations are scheduled to run for a six‑week period, after which a joint statement is expected to outline any agreed‑upon measures.