GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION WREAKE THE GAME IN VENEZUELA
By Elides J. Rojas L. *, from Caracas / Venezuela
The United States relaxes sanctions, after the signing of partial agreements in Barbados, while the Executive orders the release of five political prisoners. Specialists believe that the economy will improve in the short term.
The first indication that Venezuela and the United States had returned to the negotiating table came last week when Nicolás Maduro reported that his government had reached an agreement to receive undocumented Venezuelan immigrants who will be deported from the North on direct flights to Caracas.
Both countries broke relations four years ago and the United States has neither an embassy nor consular representation in Venezuela. To apply for North American visas you must travel to other countries and to visit the United States you must go from Colombia, Panama or the Dominican Republic.
Then it was made a definitive announcement of the meeting in Barbados between the representation of the Venezuelan Government and the United Platform of the National Opposition, with the presence of the facilitators from Norway and the United States.
THE AGREEMENTS
Both parties in conflict for 25 years signed two partial agreements on the island of Barbados. One aimed at regulating and establishing electoral guarantees and another on economic and financial issues considered vital for Venezuela; that is, the issue of sanctions. This meant the return to the negotiations halted in November 2022.
The US government stated in a statement that “it represents a necessary step in the continuation of a process of inclusive dialogue and the restoration of democracy in Venezuela.”
The electoral agreement establishes that the parties recognize and respect the right of each political actor to select their candidate for the presidential elections freely and in accordance with their internal mechanisms, according to the Constitution and the law.
They also agree that the presidential elections will be held in the second half of 2024; the update of the Permanent Electoral Registry, including days of updating and registration in the country and abroad, the purification of the registration and carrying out special registration operations.
In addition, they agreed to request the invitation to technical electoral observation missions, including the European Union, the UN Panel of Electoral Experts, the African Union, the Inter-American Union of Electoral Bodies and the Carter Center.
The Partial Agreement for the Protection of the Vital Interests of the Nation, refers to the ratification of Venezuela’s historical rights over the territory of Essequibo and rejects Guyana’s “unilateral” actions. In addition, they agree to defend the assets and property of Citgo Petroleum Corporation to preserve the vital interests and heritage of the Venezuelan people.
The US Department of State indicated that it supports a peaceful negotiated result that leads to fair and competitive elections and a return to economic stability and security. They added that they continue to call for the unconditional release of all detainees unjustly, the independence of the electoral process and judicial institutions, freedom of expression, including for members of the press, and respect for human and political rights.
Opposition spokespersons specified that the negotiation process is not paralyzed, the negotiation process continues.
Jorge Rodríguez, head of the negotiating delegation of the ruling party, said that this means that there is a “progressive process of lifting sanctions.”
The United States pointed out through the Department of State that it is vital for Venezuela to comply with the elimination of disqualifications of opposition candidates and the release of political prisoners.
RELEASED POLITICAL PRISONERS
Five Venezuelans qualified for years as political prisoners were released by the government on the night of Wednesday, the 19th, according to Gerardo Blyde, coordinator of the negotiating delegation of the Unitarian Platform in the negotiations with the Executive.
Those released are the political leader Juan Requesens, who was under house arrest; the journalist Roland Carreño; Marco Antonio Garcés Carapaica; Eurinel Rincón and Mariana Barreto.
Carreño was arrested in October 2020 accused of committing the crimes of financing terrorism, conspiracy and illicit trafficking in weapons of war. He was accused by the Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, of being the main financial operator of Voluntad Popular, the organization led by Leopoldo López.
Requesens, who was arrested in August 2018, accused of being involved in the alleged attack on Nicolás Maduro that occurred on August 4 of that year, thanked relatives and leaders of Primero Justicia, his political party, who came to greet him.
The release ballots were issued moments after the government and the United Opposition Platform signed an agreement in Barbados that promotes electoral guarantees.
For its part, the United States issued some licenses that lift, for six months, sanctions on the oil, gas and mining sectors, although it pointed out that Maduro’s non-compliance with the agreements will lead the US to reverse the measures.
The United States Administration clarified that, before the end of November, Maduro must establish an electoral schedule, the rehabilitation of all candidates and the release of US citizens and Venezuelan political prisoners. According to a balance sheet of the organization Foro Penal, as of this month there were 273 political prisoners registered in Venezuela, 146 of them military.
AGREEMENTS IN PROGRESS
The United States announced the limited and temporary easing of some sanctions imposed on Venezuela’s oil and gas industry after the signing of two agreements between the Maduro government and the United Opposition Platform.
The news comes after the signing in Barbados of two partial agreements, one of them on electoral guarantees. Washington specified that the rest of the sanctions and restrictions are maintained and that the easing of the sanctions is subject to the Maduro government fulfilling its commitments and guaranteeing the holding of competitive presidential elections in 2024.
THE PRIMARIES
The primary elections to elect the only candidate of the opposition for the 2024 elections will be held this Sunday, October 22, with the participation of 11 candidates. The resignation of several opposition options favors the possibilities of María Corina Machado, of the Vente Venezuela party, disqualified without trial by the government and leader of all the polls prior to the electoral event.
Henrique Capriles Radonski, of the Primero Justicia party; Freddy Superlano, of Voluntad Popular; and Roberto Enríquez, who renounced their candidacies last week.
Capriles, second in the polls, argued that he is disqualified, although María Corina Machado is also disqualified.
Machado, according to the polls, would easily defeat Maduro in Venezuelan elections in 2024. She is not a promoter of dialogue with Chavismo but usually criticizes it, ruling out that she aspires to negotiate her qualification as a candidate before the ruling party.
Political analyst EgléeGonzález-Lobato said that it remains to be seen whether an eventual triumph of Machado could “disturb” the negotiations.
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS
It favors the financial situation of the Venezuelan government by lifting the sanctions on oil, mining and gas.
It allows the short-term release of an undetermined number of political prisoners.
Eliminating the disqualifications will open the panorama of participation of candidates such as María Corina Machado, although Diosdado Cabello, second in the government, assures that she will not benefit from the agreed measures.
There are good possibilities for a free and fair election for the 2024 presidential elections.
The re-establishment of relations with the United States is expected in the short term.
Negotiations will continue between the government and the opposition.
Economists believe that the situation of the economy in general and especially citizens will be favored.
* Elides Rojas, a Venezuelan journalist, was the director of El Nacional and Vice President of Information of El Universal, both media outlets in Caracas. He is a member of EditoRed.
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