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Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that the country would hold elections as part of a transition to “full democracy”, but gave no date for the vote, according to The Associated Press and Reuters.
“I wish to state this very clearly before this General Assembly: Elections will be held in Venezuela,” Rodriguez said. She added that her government had opened a “political dialogue with opposition sectors” aimed at creating a process based on equal conditions for all.
Rodriguez said the Venezuelan people would determine the right time to begin the electoral process. She also assured the UN that the country’s institutions would be ready to guarantee an inclusive and transparent vote when the time came.
Venezuela’s interim leadership
Rodriguez became Venezuela’s interim president after a surprise US military raid in January that abducted then-leader Nicolas Maduro and took him to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges.
Her appearance at the UN marked the first visit to the United States by a Venezuelan head of state since Maduro travelled to New York for the General Assembly in 2018. Maduro is being held a few miles from the UN headquarters while awaiting trial.
Rodriguez’s participation was also seen as a milestone in Venezuela’s return to international diplomacy. Her speech addressed both Venezuelans and the US government, which is holding her predecessor.
Talks with the United States
Rodriguez said Venezuela was recovering from the “setbacks” it had suffered during the year and thanked US President Donald Trump for his willingness to restore relations after the operation that removed Maduro from the country.
She met Trump briefly on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed, among other issues, the restructuring of Venezuela’s billions of dollars in sovereign debt.
Critics have accused Washington of sidelining Venezuela’s opposition and abandoning demands for free elections in favour of oil and investment agreements with the interim government.
“Today, Venezuela is being reborn,” Rodriguez said. Addressing her people, she added: “I do not promise you an easy way forward.” She said rebuilding the country’s “national soul” would be the priority.
