The key facts
- Delcy Rodríguez confirmed elections will be held in Venezuela in an address to the nation
- No specific voting date was given
- Earlier, at the UN General Assembly, she spoke of dialogue between the authorities and the opposition
Elections confirmed, timing left open
Venezuela intends to hold elections, but the voting date has not yet been set. Delcy Rodríguez, the president's commissioner of the republic, confirmed that the vote will take place in accordance with the Constitution and will be organized by the renewed electoral authorities. The statement was made in an address to the nation broadcast by the Telesur television channel, reports Life.ru.
What is known about the preparations
“There will be elections, as the Constitution requires, organized by the renewed electoral authorities, and peace will be a witness to it,” Rodríguez said. According to her, the authorities intend to ensure that the elections are held in line with established legal norms, but she did not specify any concrete dates, leaving open the question of when the election campaign will begin.
Context of earlier statements
Rodríguez had previously spoken about the upcoming vote at the UN General Assembly: at the time, she said that the Venezuelan authorities were in dialogue with the opposition and intended to make the electoral process transparent. According to her, the final moment for holding the elections will be decided by the Venezuelan people themselves, while state institutions must create conditions for the participation of various political forces; she also stressed the need for an inclusive and open process.
Statements from the US
Amid discussions about Venezuela's political future, Donald Trump floated the possibility of the country becoming the 51st state of the United States and suggested that, instead of presidential elections, there be a vote for governor. He voiced this idea at a rally in Texas, while also speaking about prospects for cooperation with Caracas in the oil sector.
