Some members of the Venezuelan opposition expressed skepticism on Monday regarding President Nicolas Maduro’s commitment to follow through on promises as a deal on presidential elections next year is set to be signed. The Venezuelan government and the opposition are scheduled to meet in Barbados to finalize an agreement aimed at resolving the country’s ongoing political and social crisis. The specifics of the deal have not been disclosed, although informed sources have indicated that it includes the establishment of an election date in the latter half of 2024, allowance for international observers, and the lifting of a ban preventing certain opposition primary candidates from holding office.
Due to the ban, at least two candidates who initially planned to participate in the primary election this week have withdrawn from the race. However, front-runner Maria Corina Machado, also barred, remains in contention. The opposition views these bans as illegal, and the United States has expressed opposition to any obstacles impeding the participation of opposition candidates in the presidential race. While the agreement to be signed on Tuesday is expected to lift all public office bans, one opposition source expressed doubts regarding Maduro’s willingness to uphold the deal, citing a history of broken promises.
Sources have revealed that the United States is expected to ease some sanctions once the government-opposition deal is signed. However, further relaxation of U.S. sanctions will depend on Maduro’s continued concessions and his organization of fair elections that meet international standards. The specifics of the agreement to be signed on Tuesday were discussed between Maduro’s representatives and U.S. officials during negotiations in Doha. Maduro envoys and the opposition have engaged in intermittent meetings over the years. In 2022, they agreed to utilize approximately $3 billion in frozen funds for humanitarian purposes, although the execution of the U.N.-administered fund is still pending. The United States responded by expanding Chevron’s oil license to operate in Venezuela.
Benigno Alarcon, director of the political studies center at Andres Bello Catholic University in Caracas, emphasized the need for negotiations to yield tangible results. He stated, “What people expect from a negotiation process is that the negotiation allows, among other things, a return to democratic normalcy.” Alarcon highlighted the challenges involved in reaching political agreements, which have historically proven more complicated than deals related to sanctions, the economy, or legal actions against individuals. “We need to see if it’s possible this time,” Alarcon added.
(Reporting by Marianna Parraga in Houston and Mayela Armas in Caracas. Additional reporting by Deisy Buitrago. Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb. Editing by David Gregorio)
