The Daily Journal – Representatives of Venezuela’s interim government and a delegation from the 2015 National Assembly agreed to begin discussions on creating an “Office for Political Rights and Citizen Participation,” according to a joint statement released on Wednesday night, October 21.
“Discussions will begin on the creation of an Office for Political Rights and Citizen Participation, as a body responsible for protecting the exercise of these rights,” the statement reads. The document also announces the conclusion of the third round of talks led by Jorge Rodríguez and Dinorah Figuera.
The agreement calls for both parties to establish procedures to assess and resolve situations that undermine access to political rights and their guarantees. To that end, the statement says the delegations will assess progress in mediation and conciliation under Venezuela’s Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence.
As part of their commitments, both delegations also agreed to begin reviewing several legal instruments concerning political participation and the functioning of institutions.
Among the laws under consideration is the Law on Political Parties, Public Meetings and Demonstrations, with the stated objective of “guaranteeing the participation of all political actors, political pluralism,” and the autonomy of political organizations.
The agenda also includes the Organic Law of the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic and the National Fiscal Control System, particularly provisions concerning political disqualifications; the Libertador Simón Bolívar Organic Law; and the Organic Law Against Organized Crime and Terrorist Financing, particularly the definition and classification of terrorism.
Other agreements reached during the third round
The delegations reported that this round included two plenary sessions and 15 working meetings across four technical committees. Three committees continued discussions on strengthening democracy and the judiciary; freedom of expression, pluralism, and the right to information; and addressing the emergency resulting from the two earthquakes and recovering Venezuelan gold reserves held in the United Kingdom.
The delegations also established a fourth committee during this round to address political, economic, and social guarantees.
Regarding freedom of expression, both parties acknowledged progress following the lifting of administrative and precautionary measures. They also recommended updating licenses for radio spectrum use, in line with current regulations and the government’s efforts to simplify administrative procedures.
Concerning judicial reform, the statement highlights progress by the Preliminary Commission of the Judicial Nominations Committee, which interviewed 127 candidates from various sectors of society. Under the agreement, the National Assembly will appoint the committee’s 12 members during its next session and publish the corresponding timetable. Once the committee begins operating, the credentials review council will start its work.
The delegations also reiterated the need to recover Venezuela’s gold reserves held at the Bank of England. To pursue this objective, they agreed to establish a joint delegation with equal representation from both sides to coordinate efforts with the relevant United Kingdom authorities. According to the statement, the funds would help assist communities affected by the two earthquakes and support the restoration of public services.
Finally, both parties reaffirmed that national economic recovery remains a priority and committed to promoting conditions that safeguard social rights related to healthcare, food, education, workers’ incomes, and public services.
