Venezuela’s National Congress (Parliament) on the evening of the 17th by a vote, unanimously approved the government and the opposition signed a memorandum of understanding on the 13th.
Rodriguez, president of Venezuela’s National Congress, said the memorandum would have legal force after consideration by parliament. The government “will maintain a dialogue posture” and wants the opposition to respect the results of the vote as well. He also called on the international community to stop pressuring the Commission to ensure the smooth conduct of the follow-up consultative dialogue.
President Nicolas Maduro posted on social media later in the day thanking the National Assembly for approving the memorandum of understanding for the country’s “sovereignty and peace.”
Representatives of the government and the opposition held a consultative dialogue in Mexico City from 13 to 15. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on the 13th, mainly related to political rights, election guarantees and agenda, lifting sanctions, the rule of law and so on. The two sides will launch a new round of dialogue in Mexico on September 3rd and will promote work and technical talks in the commission, the government announced Thursday.
Under the mediation of the Government of Norway, the Government and the opposition have held several rounds of dialogue since May 2019. Guajdo, the former president of the parliament and leader of the opposition, said in May that he hoped to talk to Maduro’s government under international mediation and called for “free and fair” national elections, a timetable for elections at all levels and monitoring of the elections by international observers.
Guajdo was elected president of Venezuela’s National Congress in January 2019 and later begged as an “interim president” with the support of the United States and parts of Latin America. Since the failed coup attempt on 30 April of the same year, Guajdo’s domestic and international support has been declining. In December 2020, Guajdo and some of his pro-party parties refused to stand for election to the national congress.
