On Saturday, a new phase of negotiations began between the Venezuelan government and the radical opposition. Working groups were led by Jorge Rodríguez, the head of the parliament, and Dinora Figuera, a former member of the National Assembly elected in 2015. The well-known sociologist and head of Hinterlaces, Óscar Schemel, called it a “new era” and a strategic reshaping of the country’s political landscape. In his view, the absence of María Corina Machado from the talks clearly shows a split between those who favor confrontation and those who choose institutional dialogue. The main technical task at present is reforming the National Electoral Council (CNE) and the Supreme Court (TSJ) to provide guarantees for future elections.
According to polls, public demand has clearly shifted toward the center: 65% of citizens support pragmatic forces, while opposition parties have backing from only 5% of the population. This points to fatigue with ideological polarization and a priority placed on economic stability, working services, and everyday certainty. Schemel also noted that official power is undergoing a transformation toward a more pragmatic and adaptive model while preserving its ideological roots. The expert emphasized that the dialogue underway symbolizes the decline of an era of extremes and opens a new chapter in Venezuela’s political life.
Full version: Oscar Schémel: nueva etapa de negociación redefine el mapa político venezolano