Dinorah Figuera: “We have launched the process that will chart Venezuela’s path toward democracy”

CARACAS, VENEZUELA, August 7, 2026. — Dinorah Figuera, President of Venezuela’s 2015 National Assembly, announced Thursday afternoon the formal launch of a direct dialogue process with the interim government aimed at achieving national stabilization, economic recovery, political reconciliation, and a peaceful transition. The delegations agreed to conduct an initial round of work through August 12.

“This first round of work will take place over five sessions: August 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12. At its conclusion, we will inform the country of the progress made on the issues addressed,” the 2015 National Assembly stated in its Message to Venezuela. In that document, representatives of the interim government and lawmakers from the 2015 National Assembly pledged to maintain “equal treatment at the negotiating table and ensure the verifiable fulfillment of the commitments” reached, as well as to continue “working responsibly and resolutely to advance toward a democratic, institutional, and free Venezuela.”

They also thanked Venezuelans and the international community for their support of this process, particularly the Government of the United States, the initiative’s principal promoter.

Before the statement was approved, and in a message published through her official channels, Figuera emphasized the strategic significance of the day:

“Today, we have launched the process that will chart the path toward democracy and the restoration of Venezuela’s institutions, bringing together members of the 2015 National Assembly and representatives of the interim government. We are working firmly for freedom and democracy for Venezuelans,” she said.

U.S. Department of State: “Direct talks represent a unique opportunity”

The United States Department of State, for its part, issued an official statement on its website welcoming the arrival in Caracas of the delegation led by Representative Dinorah Figuera and the launch of the direct dialogue process.

The U.S. government described the talks as “a unique opportunity” for the country and applauded “efforts to address the urgent needs of people affected by the June 24 earthquakes, expand political freedoms, and advance toward a more stable and prosperous future for the Venezuelan people.”

The U.S. administration also reaffirmed its willingness to support an initiative that “plays a fundamental role in the three-phase plan to achieve stabilization, economic recovery, political reconciliation, and a peaceful transition,” the statement said, while urging all stakeholders to support the effort and achieve tangible results.

Joint Statement: Plenary Session Launched and Process Principles Established

At the conclusion of the opening session, the delegations representing the national government and the 2015 National Assembly released a joint statement agreed upon by the plenary. The statement approved the methodology and work cycles and reaffirmed the agenda of issues to be addressed throughout the process.

During the first round of work, the parties will remain in continuous session through Wednesday, August 12, when they will determine whether the plenary session should continue, “taking into consideration the importance of this process for the well-being of Venezuelan men and women.”

The parties endorsed the following principles: respect for national sovereignty; good-faith negotiations and the pursuit of benefits for Venezuela; a political, peaceful, democratic, and constitutional solution; mutual recognition and respect between the parties; political equality and equal treatment at the negotiating table; verifiable fulfillment of commitments; and the protection of human rights and the political rights of all political forces.