Venezuela's interim government and opposition representatives concluded a first round of talks on Wednesday aimed at reconciling the nation following the US ouster of longtime leader Nicolas Maduro. The two sides reached agreements on reforming the judiciary and accessing frozen funds to aid earthquake recovery efforts.
In a joint statement, both sides committed to "initiate a process that contributes to the transformation of the justice system," including reforms to the Organic Law of Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ). The TSJ had validated Maduro's disputed 2024 reelection. The statement did not mention the National Electoral Council, another body the opposition hopes to overhaul.
The talks also focused on the release of Venezuela's international reserve assets held at the Bank of England to support recovery from the June 24 earthquakes that killed over 6,300 people. The joint statement called for "mechanisms for transparency, traceability, and auditing" to ensure proper use of the funds.
Interim president Delcy Rodriguez's government was represented by her brother Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela's National Assembly. The opposition was represented by Dinorah Figuera, leader of the political bloc that won a majority in the 2015 National Assembly. Notably absent was exiled opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Over the six days of talks, Figuera met with representatives of political prisoners, retirees, and media workers, promising to advocate for their demands. Many Venezuelans are hopeful that the transition talks will lead to democratic elections. An opposition source compared the interim government to Nicaragua's oppressive administration, viewed by the US as a dictatorship.
