Venezuela interim president promises elections in UN address

Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has told the United Nations General Assembly that the country will hold elections as part of a transition to what she described as full democracy. She did not give a date for the vote. In her speech, she said the government had begun talks with opposition groups and was preparing national institutions for the electoral process.

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Rodriguez said the transition would be an orderly, institutional and verifiable process. She said all political forces would be allowed to take part, and added that the aim was to build a country that is freer, more prosperous and more reconciled with itself. She also said Venezuela had opened a political dialogue with opposition groups to create equal conditions for all.

The announcement comes after Rodriguez came to power following the capture of Nicolas Maduro by American forces in a January raid. The change in leadership has left Venezuela in a period of uncertainty, with the shape of the transition still being defined. Rodriguez also briefly met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly and praised him for restarting dialogue with Venezuela.

The meeting with Trump is significant because the future of Venezuela's political transition is closely tied to relations with Washington. The supporting material says the two leaders discussed restructuring the country's billions of dollars in sovereign debt. It also notes criticism from some observers that Washington has sidelined the Venezuelan opposition and shifted attention toward oil and investment deals with the interim government.

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Rodriguez used her address to ask for international support as Venezuela moves from uncertainty and conflict toward full democracy. She said economic recovery would take time, suggesting that any political transition will also have to deal with the country's financial problems. The remarks indicate that elections are being presented not only as a political milestone but also as part of a wider effort to stabilise state institutions.

What remains unclear is when the elections will take place and what guarantees will be in place for opposition participation. It is also not clear how far talks with opposition groups have progressed or what role the United States will play in shaping the process. The next developments to watch are any formal election timetable, further details on institutional preparations and whether the dialogue leads to a broader political settlement.

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