Elides J. Rojas
Journalist. Former editor of El Nacional and former vice-president of Information of El Universal
The United States relaxes sanctions, after the signing of partial agreements in Barbados, while the Executive orders the release of five political prisoners. Specialists believe that the economy will improve in the short term.
The first sign that Venezuela and the United States had returned to the negotiating table came last week when Nicolás Maduro announced that his government had reached an agreement to receive undocumented Venezuelan immigrants who will be deported from the North on direct flights to Caracas.
The two countries broke off relations four years ago and the US has no embassy or consular representation in Venezuela. To apply for US visas one must travel to other countries and to visit the US one must go from Colombia, Panama or the Dominican Republic.
Then came the final announcement of the meeting in Barbados between the representatives of the Venezuelan government and the Unitary Platform of the National Opposition, with the presence of facilitators from Norway and the United States.
The two sides in conflict for 25 years signed two partial agreements on the island of Barbados. One aimed at regulating and establishing electoral guarantees (which you can review here) and the other on economic and financial matters considered vital for Venezuela, i.e. the issue of sanctions. This meant a return to negotiations that were halted in November 2022.
The US government said in a statement that it “represents a necessary step in the continuation of an inclusive dialogue process and the restoration of democracy in Venezuela”.
The electoral agreement states that the parties recognise and respect the right of each political actor to select its candidate for the presidential elections freely and in accordance with its internal mechanisms, according to the constitution and the law.
They also agree that the presidential elections will be held in the second half of 2024; the updating of the Permanent Electoral Register, including updating and registration days in the country and abroad, the purging of the register and the carrying out of special voter registration operations.
In addition, they agreed to request the invitation of technical electoral observation missions, including the European Union, the UN Panel of Electoral Experts, the African Union, the Inter-American Union of Electoral Bodies and the Carter Center.
The Partial Agreement for the Protection of the Vital Interests of the Nation refers to the ratification of Venezuela’s historical rights over the Essequibo territory and rejects Guyana’s “unilateral” actions. In addition, they agree to defend the assets and property of Citgo Petroleum Corporation to preserve the vital interests and heritage of the Venezuelan people.
The US State Department said it supports a peaceful negotiated outcome leading to fair and competitive elections and a return to economic stability and security. They added that they continue to call for the unconditional release of all those unjustly detained, the independence of the electoral process and judicial institutions, freedom of expression, including for members of the press, and respect for human and political rights.
Opposition spokespersons specified that the negotiation process is not paralysed, the negotiation process continues.
Jorge Rodríguez, head of the government’s negotiating delegation, affirmed that this means that there is a “progressive process of lifting sanctions”.
The United States, through the State Department, pointed out that it is vital that Venezuela complies with the elimination of the disqualifications of opposition candidates and the release of political prisoners.
Five Venezuelan political prisoners were released by the government on Wednesday night, according to Gerardo Blyde, coordinator of the negotiating delegation of the Unitary Platform in the negotiations with the government.
Those released are political leader Juan Requesens, who was under house arrest; journalist Roland Carreño; Marco Antonio Garcés Carapaica; Eurinel Rincón and Mariana Barreto.
Carreño was arrested in October 2020 on charges of financing terrorism, conspiracy and illicit trafficking in weapons of war. He was accused by the attorney general, Tarek William Saab, of being the main financial operator of Voluntad Popular, the organisation led by Leopoldo López.
Requesens, who was arrested in August 2018, accused of involvement in the alleged attack against Nicolás Maduro on 4 August 2018, thanked family members and leaders of Primero Justicia, his political party, who came to greet him.
The release papers were issued moments after the government and the opposition’s Unitary Platform signed an agreement in Barbados promoting electoral guarantees.
For its part, the US issued some licenses that lift, for six months, sanctions on the oil, gas and mining sector, although it pointed out that Maduro’s failure to comply with the agreements will lead the US to reverse the measures.
The US administration made it clear that, before the end of November, Maduro must establish an electoral timetable, the rehabilitation of all candidates and the release of US citizens and Venezuelan political prisoners. According to a report by the organisation Foro Penal, as of this month there were 273 political prisoners in Venezuela, 146 of them military personnel.
The United States announced a limited and temporary easing of some sanctions imposed on Venezuela’s oil and gas industry following the signing of two agreements between Maduro’s government and the opposition Unitary Platform.
The news follows the signing in Barbados of two partial agreements, one of them on electoral guarantees. Washington specified that the rest of the sanctions and restrictions remain in place and that the easing of sanctions is subject to the Maduro government fulfilling its commitments and guaranteeing the holding of competitive presidential elections in 2024.
The primary elections to choose the sole opposition candidate for the 2024 elections are being held this Sunday, 22 October, with 11 candidates participating. The resignation of several opposition options favours the chances of María Corina Machado, of the Vente Venezuela party, disqualified without trial by the government and leader of all polls prior to the electoral event.
Henrique Capriles Radonski, of the Primero Justicia party; Freddy Superlano, of Voluntad Popular; and Roberto Enríquez, who resigned their candidacies last week.
Capriles, second in the polls, argued that he is disqualified, although María Corina Machado is also disqualified.
Machado, according to polls, would easily defeat Maduro in Venezuelan elections in 2024. She is not a promoter of dialogue with chavismo, but is usually critical of it, ruling out that she aspires to negotiate her qualification as a candidate with the government.
Political analyst Eglée González-Lobato said it remains to be seen whether an eventual Machado victory could “disrupt” the negotiations.
The immediate effects of the negotiations are:
– It favours the Venezuelan government’s financial situation by lifting US sanctions on oil, mining and gas.
– It allows for the release of an unspecified number of political prisoners in the short term.
– Removing disqualifications will open the way for candidates such as María Corina Machado to participate, although Diosdado Cabello, the government’s deputy, assures that she will not benefit from the agreed measures.
– There is a good chance of a free and fair election for the 2024 presidential elections.
– Re-establishment of relations with the US is expected in the short term.
– Negotiations will continue between government and opposition.
– Economists believe that the situation of the economy in general and citizens in particular will benefit.
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