The Venezuelan government plans to resume negotiations with the United States this week about lifting crippling economic sanctions, President Nicolas Maduro announced.
Monday’s announcement came less than a month before an election in which the president and his party face their toughest test in decades.
Maduro, who is seeking a third term, wants Washington to lift economic sanctions imposed in an effort to topple him over the past decade. He said on his weekly television show that talks were “urgent.”
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration did not respond to a request for comment.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (AP)
“After two months of reflection, I have accepted this. Next Wednesday, talks will resume with the US government to re-establish the terms of the emergency dialogue, in accordance with the agreement signed in Qatar.”
The Trump administration had been holding parallel talks with the Biden administration and the U.S.-backed opposition coalition known as the Unity Platform, but the talks were halted after Trump reneged on pre-election promises to improve the situation and the Trump administration accused the U.S. of not fulfilling its parts of the agreement.
Some of the talks have taken place in Qatar. It was not immediately clear where the latest round of talks would take place.
The July 28 election is poised to pose the biggest challenge yet to Venezuela’s ruling United Socialist Party, which has ruled for 25 years since the fiery president Hugo Chavez took office.
Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez speaks at a press conference with Rep. Genesis Garbet (left) and Governor Rafael Lacaba in Caracas. (Ariana Cubillos/AP)
Ten candidates, including the president, will appear on the ballot. The only candidate who has a real chance of beating the president is Edmundo González Urrutia, who heads the opposition Unity Platform coalition.
Maduro reached a deal with the opposition coalition last year to work to improve conditions for free and fair elections, but changed course after the rapid rise of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado posed a real threat to his re-election prospects.
The United States granted Maduro exemptions from sanctions on the state-run oil, gas and mining sectors after he reached a deal with the opposition, but the Biden administration ended the waivers after the ruling party continued to use its control over government institutions to tilt the odds in Maduro’s favor, including by blocking Machado’s candidacy.
Her chosen successor was also excluded from the vote: she and the coalition are now backing former diplomat Gonzalez.
