Venezuela’s 2015-era National Assembly and the current government have agreed to launch a joint working agenda on August 1, aimed at political reconciliation and institutional stability. The plan, backed by the United States, follows a devastating double earthquake that struck the country on June 24, resulting in a death toll of 4,561 people. This humanitarian emergency has served as a catalyst for renewed calls for national unity and a formalization of dialogue between the current legislative body and the members of the parliament that was dissolved in 2020.
Dinorah Figuera and Jorge Rodríguez Establish a Joint Working Agenda
Joint Agenda for Stability and Electoral Reform
The collaboration, set to begin on August 1, represents a formalization of dialogue between the current legislative body and members of the 2015-2020 Assembly. The initiative focuses on three primary pillars: strengthening democratic institutions, improving the electoral system, and restoring guarantees for political participation. This shift in strategy follows months of intermittent contact between the groups, which gained urgency in the wake of the June 24 seismic disaster. Dinorah Figuera, who continues to be recognized by the United States as the president of the 2015 National Assembly, framed the agreement as a necessary step toward national reconstruction. Figuera, a medical doctor, traveled to Caracas in May to meet with Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the National Assembly, to establish the technical-institutional working group. This work is intended to address three distinct phases: stabilization, recovery, and transition.
In a statement published via her account on X, Figuera declared: “La Asamblea Nacional 2015 anuncia al país el inicio de una agenda de trabajo conjunta a partir del 1 de agosto concebida como una hoja de ruta para promover la estabilidad, la democracia y la recuperación nacional, constituyéndose como el inicio de la construcción de una nueva etapa que dará paso a una Venezuela de progreso y libertades.”
Marco Rubio and the State Department Endorse the Venezuelan Reconciliation Process
United States Support and Diplomatic Realignment
The United States government has officially endorsed the process, with the State Department issuing a statement noting that the administration values the announcements made by the 2015 National Assembly and the interim government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio transmitted the communication from the National Assembly via his X account, which acts as an official endorsement of the negotiations. Washington has emphasized that the devastation caused by the recent earthquakes has “puesto en evidencia la urgencia de la unidad nacional y de instituciones capaces de servir a la ciudadanía.” Furthermore, the U.S. has committed to supporting efforts led by Venezuelan actors that generate tangible progress toward a peaceful and democratic electoral transition, while also collaborating on recovery tasks following the humanitarian emergency.
Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia Convene with the Plataforma Unitaria Democrática
Opposition Response and the Role of the PUD
The announcement has prompted internal evaluations within the broader opposition, specifically among leaders of the Plataforma Unitaria Democrática (PUD). Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia recently convened with coalition members to assess the dialogue process initiated by the legislative factions. According to a statement released by Machado’s party, Vente Venezuela, the leaders “ratificaron que el centro de cualquier acuerdo y decisión debe ser la urgencia de la gente, y que abogarán por el respeto del mandato popular de los venezolanos.” The purpose of these meetings is to gather information regarding the announced dialogue path and to define a public position on the matter.
Legislative Commitments Amidst Humanitarian Crisis
The commitment to the August 1 start date was confirmed by Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the National Assembly. Rodríguez, who previously met with Figuera to discuss the roadmap, emphasized that the plan is intended to address the consequences of the seismic events. In a document disseminated by the National Assembly, Rodríguez noted that the plan seeks the “fortalecimiento de la democracia” and aims to face las consecuencias del doblete sísmico.
The parties have agreed that the agenda will prioritize the strengthening of democratic institutions and the electoral system. Figuera, who has been preparing for her return to Caracas from her residence in Valencia, Spain—a journey interrupted by the earthquakes—maintains that the agenda is not exclusive to the electoral theme but is a comprehensive approach to the tragedy facing the country. As the country moves toward the August 1 start date, the political landscape remains centered on the integration of these agendas to address both the immediate earthquake recovery needs and the long-term institutional goals outlined in the joint announcement.
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