The head of the Venezuelan regime, Delcy Rodríguez, assured in an interview with NBC News that she is “absolutely” committed to organizing “free and fair elections” in the country, although she specified that the date of the elections will depend on the national political dialogue.
In an interview with the American network, Rodríguez responded affirmatively when journalist Kristen Welker asked her if she is willing to hold elections.
“Absolutely, yes,” declared Rodríguez, according to the translation released by NBCNews.
“We will have fair and free elections in this country, of course, as established by the Constitution,” he added.However, he clarified that the electoral calendar will be decided “by political dialogue in this country.”
In the same interview, Rodríguez confirmed that she has received a formal invitation to visit Washington and that she is willing to make the trip “once we establish this cooperation and we can move forward with everything.”
“They have invited me to the United States. We are considering going there once we establish this cooperation and we can move forward with everything,” Rodríguez told NBC News.
The Venezuelan political transition has been marked by the intervention of the United States, which now protects Rodríguez’s management and demands the opening of the oil sector and institutional normalization.The US Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, visited Caracas this week and held a meeting with the Chavista leader to address the next steps of the energy agreement and the roadmap to economic recovery.
In statements reported by The Wall Street Journal, Wright emphasized that Venezuela is going through the beginning of a transition stage and that Delcy Rodríguez is aware that the electoral process is a necessary condition to consolidate cooperation.
“We are in the first weeks of a transition period,” Wright explained to the newspaper.When asked about the possibility of Rodríguez accepting elections within a year and a half, Wright said: “I think so. She is very aware of that… I think she recognizes that it is a necessary condition. We have a plan. She knows the plan.”
Delcy Rodríguez visited with Chris Wright the facilities of one of the plants that Chevron operates in the Orinoco Oil Belt, a region that concentrates the largest proven crude oil reserves in the world.From there he advocated for the elimination of any obstacle in the oil agreement between Venezuela and the United States.
“Chevron has been in Venezuela for more than 100 years and we are doing extraordinary work, as partners that we are, improving production, improving facilities, infrastructure and maintenance and this is the path of cooperation,” he stated.
During the interview with NBC News, Rodríguez reiterated that Maduro remains, in his opinion, the “legitimate president” of Venezuela.“Both President Maduro and Cilia Flores, the first lady, are innocent,” he stated.
The head of the Chavista regime also responded to the situation of opposition leader María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize winner, who is outside the country.
Rodríguez warned that Machado “will have to answer to Venezuela” if he returns and will have to explain “why he asked for military intervention, why he asked for sanctions against Venezuela and why he celebrated the actions that took place at the beginning of January.”
He emphasized that, regarding the safety of the opponent, he does not understand “why there is so much commotion,” but insisted that she must be held accountable before the Venezuelan justice system.
The political transition process occurs alongside a series of economic and legal reforms.The National Assembly recently approved changes to the Organic Hydrocarbons Law to facilitate foreign investment and the participation of US companies in the energy sector, in line with Washington’s demands for the country’s economic recovery.
(With information from EFE and AFP)
