Venezuelan Opposition Renews Push to Delay Presidential Vote, Sources Say
- Government and opposition have renewed negotiations in private
- Opposition still pushing for new electoral board, later date
Henrique Capriles speaks to members of the media on July 16, 2017.
Photographer: Carlos Becerra/BloombergVenezuela’s opposition has renewed private talks with the government in a bid to push back the date of the country’s presidential elections as President Nicolas Maduro’s administration seeks some legitimacy for the vote, according to people familiar with the matter.
Two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, former Governor Henri Falcon and lawmakers from two of Venezuela’s largest opposition parties participated in the talks that began Friday and are ongoing at the Gran Melia Hotel in Caracas, after the Democratic Unity Roundtable, or MUD, announced it would shun snap elections to protest what they say is an electoral system rigged to favor the ruling socialist party. Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez and head of National Constituent Assembly Delcy Rodriguez are said to have been among representatives from the government, two of the people said.