Archive · 31 Jul 2026
US-backed Venezuela talks to begin without opposition leader Machado
Venezuela is having talks with the U.S. to fix its elections.
The talks start on Saturday, but the most famous opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, is not joining.
Dinorah Figuera will lead the opposition side.
The talks want to change the voting rules and courts.
The U.S. wants to lift some sanctions if the talks succeed.
U.S.-backed negotiations between Venezuela’s interim government and a faction of the opposition will start on Saturday, excluding prominent opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
The opposition delegation will be led by Dinorah Figuera, head of a 2015 elected national assembly cohort recognized by the U.S.
Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, has declined to participate but said she would not block progress and will assess success on democratic reforms.
The talks aim to overhaul the electoral council and top court to ensure free and fair elections, with the interim government seeking to lift remaining U.S. sanctions.
U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasize the need for all Venezuelan society elements to be represented, while noting Machado’s absence.
- Who
- Venezuela’s interim government, opposition faction led by Dinorah Figuera, and U.S. officials
- What
- U.S.-backed negotiations to overhaul Venezuela’s electoral system and lift sanctions
- When
- Saturday, July 31, 2024
- Where
- Caracas, Venezuela
- Why
- To prepare for free and fair elections and restore democratic institutions
- Negotiation participants
- Interim government and opposition faction
- Key opposition leader absent
- Maria Corina Machado
- Opposition delegation leader
- Dinorah Figuera
- Date of talks
- Saturday, July 31, 2024
- U.S. involvement
- Backed negotiations, seeks sanctions relief