The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
Caracas /AFP
Venezuela’s political rivals were expected to carry out more fraught Vatican-backed talks on Saturday as they struggle to stabilize a volatile country stricken by food shortages.
The talks, which began late on Friday, could determine whether the sides maintain their fragile dialogue or the oil-rich South American country returns to antagonism and instability.
“Progress was made on key agreements, the exact contents of which will be revealed” at the end of the meetings, Ernesto Samper, secretary general of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) said. A short time before the meeting got under way, President Nicolas Maduro declared that he had done everything in his power to achieve a resolution with opposition leaders, who for months had been seeking to remove him.
“I have done everything, both possible and impossible, for there to be peace talks with the right—without ultimatums and without bullying,” the socialist leader said.
After four hours of negotiations on Friday, the parties agreed to meet the following morning at 10:00 am for a second round of talks.
Mass street protests erupted after authorities last month blocked the opposition’s bid to hold a referendum on removing Maduro from office.
The two sides declared a “truce” at a first meeting 11 days ago and agreed to resume talks on Friday. The outlook appears combative. Opposition MUD coalition leader Jesus Torrealba warned his side would seek early elections if Maduro keeps refusing a referendum, as he has vowed. “The MUD is seeking an electoral solution to this crisis through the negotiating table,” Torrealba said.
“Venezuela is a pressure cooker. The recall vote was an escape valve, and the government sealed it up.”
The MUD has demanded that its imprisoned members be released.
The opposition launched its efforts to remove the president after winning control of the legislature in January.
Maduro has vowed not to bow to pressure and ultimatums.
He said the government would present a plan for ending the crisis at the meetings and urged the MUD not to quit the talks. “I want them to stay seated in the dialogue that is beginning. They must have patience,” he said on the radio. Under constitutional rules, the opposition must secure a referendum before January 10 if it wants to remove Maduro. Otherwise he or his allies will keep power until 2019.