The Daily Journal.- Dinorah Figuera, who represents a sector of the opposition at the dialogue table with the Delcy Rodríguez administration, said the next phase of negotiations will focus on restoring the institutional framework of public authorities and discussing political and civil guarantees, including freedom of expression.
During a virtual meeting with lawyers from Mérida state, Figuera said the agreed roadmap calls for progress in restructuring the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) and the National Electoral Council (CNE), as well as launching, “at least by next week,” a working group dedicated to political and civil freedoms and guarantees.
“A roadmap that also includes the reinstitutionalization of the National Electoral Council, and that also provides for the establishment, at least by next week, of a working group on political and civil freedoms or guarantees, and, of course, freedom of expression,” she said.
According to Figuera, these four elements — the reinstitutionalization of the TSJ and the CNE, political and civil guarantees, and freedom of expression — are essential to strengthening governance and institutional stability in Venezuela.
The opposition leader also defended the decision not to make the CNE the first issue in the negotiations. She recalled that, in her view, rulings by TSJ bodies have altered election results that the electoral authority had previously announced.
“There are results from the National Electoral Council that even declared winners,” and that TSJ bodies later “altered through rulings,” she said.
Elections and guarantees
Figuera made the remarks amid demands from sectors calling for elections in the short term. The opposition representative acknowledged pressure to accelerate the process but defended the work carried out since they assumed responsibility for participating in the dialogue.
“People sometimes tell us — there is a sector of the population that tells us — elections now, elections as soon as possible,” she said.
However, she argued that the talks go beyond electoral negotiations and also seek to build guarantees and institutions capable of sustaining the agreements that the parties reach.
“We only assumed this responsibility on August 1, and along the way we have worked very hard,” Figuera said, adding that the process involves “aspects with guarantees in the search for building a common purpose, but with different visions.”
The opposition representative acknowledged that the talks can become complex because the parties hold different positions, but said participants subsequently evaluate their disagreements to work toward common proposals.
Reinstitutionalization of the TSJ
Figuera also called on lawyers to help rebuild the country’s judicial institutions.
“We are eager for lawyers to step forward and take up the task of reinstitutionalizing the Supreme Court of Justice,” she said.
The opposition leader also defended the participation of sectors critical of the negotiations and argued that their observations can help improve the process.
“For us, that is important. Criticism is constructive,” she said, adding that objections require participants to work “as meticulously as possible” on rebuilding the judiciary.
Figuera said the roadmap ultimately seeks to strengthen Venezuela’s institutions and lay the groundwork for political coexistence that can help the country overcome its fragmentation.
