Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado speaks during a visit at the National Assembly in Panama City, Panama, May 25, 2026. Image@ REUTERS
Negotiations between Venezuela’s interim government and a U.S.-backed opposition delegation are set to begin on Saturday, marking a significant step toward restoring democratic governance and preparing the country for future elections.
The talks underscore Washington’s growing influence in Venezuelan politics following the removal of former President Nicolás Maduro in January and the installation of interim President Delcy Rodríguez by the United States.
The government’s delegation will be led by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, a veteran negotiator in previous discussions with both the United States and the opposition.
The opposition team will be headed by Dinorah Figuera, leader of the opposition-controlled 2015 National Assembly, which the United States continues to recognize as Venezuela’s last democratically elected legislature.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Washington specifically requested that Figuera lead the opposition delegation because of her internationally recognized position and role in efforts to reform Venezuela’s electoral council and judiciary to pave the way for free and fair elections.
Notably absent from the negotiations is Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, widely regarded as Venezuela’s most popular opposition figure.
Machado, who left Venezuela late last year to receive her Nobel Prize after spending months in hiding following the disputed 2024 presidential election, has pledged to return to assist victims of the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the country in June.
Her absence has raised concerns among political observers, particularly after reports that she was either not informed of the talks until shortly before they were announced or was excluded because she is not a member of the 2015 National Assembly.
While U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that his administration discouraged Machado from returning to Venezuela, U.S. officials have argued that she currently lacks sufficient political backing to lead the country’s transition.
Despite her exclusion, Machado has expressed cautious support for the negotiations, saying she will judge their success based on tangible outcomes, including the restoration of democratic institutions, the release of political prisoners, and a clear timetable for credible elections.
Political analysts say negotiators will need to deliver quick and meaningful progress to build public confidence and offset concerns over Machado’s absence.
Ricardo Ríos, head of political risk consultancy Poder y Estrategia, said excluding Machado’s faction leaves an important segment of the opposition unrepresented but is unlikely to create new divisions within an already fragmented opposition movement.
The interim government is expected to seek the removal of remaining U.S. sanctions during the negotiations.
Washington has previously eased restrictions on Venezuela’s oil, gas and gold sectors in exchange for commitments toward democratic reforms.
The latest negotiations come after years of failed dialogue between the opposition and the Maduro government.
A previous agreement intended to ensure free and fair elections in 2024 collapsed after Machado was barred from contesting the presidential race.
International observers and the United States questioned the official results that declared Maduro the winner.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has emphasized that Washington’s role is to facilitate rather than dictate the negotiations.
He said any lasting reconciliation in Venezuela requires the participation of all sectors of society, acknowledging that Machado represents a significant portion of the country’s democratic movement.
Opposition figures have welcomed the active U.S. role, saying Washington’s involvement provides important security guarantees for leaders who have long faced politically motivated arrests and prosecutions.
The negotiations are widely seen as a crucial opportunity to lay the foundation for democratic reforms and eventually return Venezuela to credible, internationally recognized elections.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong