THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Venezuela govt, opposition hold US-backed talks on democratic ... CARACAS, Venezuela, June 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Members of Venezuela's interim government met with the country's opposition party Thursday to discuss a "roadmap for a dialogue on a democratic transition," the US State Department said. The meeting between National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez and former opposition lawmaker Dinorah Figuera -- who returned to Caracas on Thursday after eight years of exile -- "is a first step in what will be a thoughtful process to secure a free and open Venezuelan society," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. A doctor by training who became president of the National Assembly in 2015, Figuera, 65, went into exile in 2018, fleeing after receiving "threats and harassment" for serving as the spokesperson for her fellow Justice First party member Fernando Alban, who died in prison that October. President Nicolas Maduro was captured in January during a US military raid and arrested on drug trafficking charges, and the Venezuelan government has since been led by his vice president Delcy Rodriguez on an interim basis. Upon her return in Venezuela, Figuera sought to…

Venezuela government, Opposition hold U.S.-backed talks on democratic transition The meeting between National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez and former Opposition lawmaker Dinorah Figuera — who returned to Caracas on Thursday (June 18) after eight years of exile — "is a first step in what will be a thoughtful process to secure a free and open Venezuelan society," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement.

Venezuela govt, opposition hold US-backed talks on democratic ... Members of Venezuela’s interim government met with the country’s opposition party Thursday to discuss a “roadmap for a dialogue on a democratic transition,” the US State Department said. The meeting between National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez and former opposition lawmaker Dinorah Figuera — who returned to Caracas on Thursday after eight years of exile — “is a first step in what will be a thoughtful process to secure a free and open Venezuelan society,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. A doctor by training who became president of the National Assembly in 2015, Figuera, 65, went into exile in 2018, fleeing after receiving “threats and harassment” for serving as the spokesperson for her fellow Justice First party member Fernando Alban, who died in prison that October. President Nicolas Maduro was captured in January during a US military raid and arrested on drug trafficking charges, and the Venezuelan government has since been led by his vice president Delcy Rodriguez on an interim basis. Upon her return in Venezuela, Figuera sought to distance herself from opposition leader and Nobel P…

US-backed opposition figure Figuera returns to Venezuela to negotiate a 'credible' electoral body <p> <img src="https://en.mercopress.com/data/cache/noticias/110533/100x80/di.jpg" alt="" width="100" height="80" style="float:left;margin:0 12px 6px 0;border:1px solid #333" /> Opposition figure Dinorah Figuera, president of the National Assembly elected in 2015 and exiled in Spain for nearly eight years, returned to Venezuela on Thursday at the invitation of the US State Department to negotiate a "credible" electoral authority with Delcy Rodríguez's interim government. The return is part of Washington's plan for a democratic transition in the country.</p>

Venezuela govt, opposition hold US-backed talks on democratic ... Venezuela govt, opposition hold US-backed talks on democratic transition Caracas (AFP) – Members of Venezuela's interim government met with the country's opposition party Thursday to discuss a "roadmap for a dialogue on a democratic transition," the US State Department said. Issued on: 19/06/2026 - 02:24 1 min Reading time Venezuelan Parliament President Jorge Rodriguez (L) meets with former opposition lawmaker Dinorah Figuera at the National Assembly in Caracas on the day she returned to the country following eight years of exile © Federico PARRA / AFP Advertising Read more The meeting between National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez and former opposition lawmaker Dinorah Figuera -- who returned to Caracas on Thursday after eight years of exile -- "is a first step in what will be a thoughtful process to secure a free and open Venezuelan society," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. A doctor by training who became president of the National Assembly in 2015, Figuera, 65, went into exile in 2018, fleeing after receiving "threats and harassment" for serving as the spokesperson for her fel…

Venezuela govt, opposition hold US-backed talks on democratic ... Members of Venezuela's interim government met with the country's opposition party Thursday to discuss a "roadmap for a dialogue on a democratic transition," the US State Department said. The meeting between National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez and former opposition lawmaker Dinorah Figuera -- who returned to Caracas on Thursday after eight years of exile -- "is a first step in what will be a thoughtful process to secure a free and open Venezuelan society," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. A doctor by training who became president of the National Assembly in 2015, Figuera, 65, went into exile in 2018, fleeing after receiving "threats and harassment" for serving as the spokesperson for her fellow Justice First party member Fernando Alban, who died in prison that October. President Nicolas Maduro was captured in January during a US military raid and arrested on drug trafficking charges, and the Venezuelan government has since been led by his vice president Delcy Rodriguez on an interim basis. Upon her return in Venezuela, Figuera sought to distance herself from opposition leader and N…

Sidelining María Corina Machado, US supports a new opposition figure to ... Florantonia Singer María Martín Caracas / Bogotá - Jun 19, 2026 - 13:20 CEST Share on Whatsapp Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Desplegar Redes Sociales Prefer EL PAÍS on Google Compartir: Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Bluesky Linkedin Copy link An unexpected figure has emerged in the ongoing efforts to achieve a political transition in Venezuela following the capture by U.S. forces of President Nicolás Maduro in January and the ensuing U.S. tutelage of the country . Dinorah Figuera, an exiled lawmaker and elected president of the parallel opposition National Assembly that emerged after the 2015 parliamentary election, returned to Caracas this Thursday after living abroad for eight years. Her return, one of the goals of which is to push for the renewal of the National Electoral Council (CNE), is backed by U.S. President Donald Trump and has the approval of Delcy Rodríguez ’s government in Venezuela. This move shifts the spotlight away from the opposition’s leading figure, María Corina Machado. After landing at the airport, Figuera told reporters that she had come at the invitation of the U.S. State Departmen…

Venezuela interim government and opposition discuss democratic ... - TAG24 2026-06-19 01:17:00 Venezuela interim government and opposition discuss democratic transition in US-backed talks Caracas, Venezuela - Members of Venezuela 's interim government met with the country's opposition party Thursday to discuss a "roadmap for a dialogue on a democratic transition," the US State Department said. Venezuelan Parliament President Jorge Rodriguez (l) meets with former opposition lawmaker Dinorah Figuera (r) at the National Assembly in Caracas on Thursday. © FEDERICO PARRA / AFP The meeting between National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez and former opposition lawmaker Dinorah Figuera – who returned to Caracas on Thursday after eight years of exile – "is a first step in what will be a thoughtful process to secure a free and open Venezuelan society," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement . A doctor by training who became president of the National Assembly in 2015, Figuera (65) went into exile in 2018, fleeing after receiving "threats and harassment" for serving as the spokesperson for her fellow Justice First party member Fernando Alban, who died in prison that Octobe…