Venezuela Government and Opposition Sign U.S.-Facilitated Transition Accord

Venezuelan government official Jorge Rodríguez and opposition representative Dinorah Figuera signed a political transition accord in Caracas on Wednesday. The agreement follows a third round of negotiations facilitated by the United States and focuses on a gradual process of stabilization, economic recovery, and the eventual holding of democratic elections.

As part of the framework, the Venezuelan legislature approved a committee to assist in selecting new Supreme Court justices. However, no specific timeline for elections has been established. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is promoting a three-stage plan to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy, while President Donald Trump has stated that Venezuela is not yet ready for elections, focusing instead on the country's oil revenues.

The agreement faces internal opposition. Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader María Corina Machado, currently in exile in Panama, claims the United States excluded her from the dialogue, a charge the State Department denies. Meanwhile, government leader Delcy Rodríguez acknowledged the dialogue efforts but criticized small groups that attempt to block streets or set fires to force political change.